Our Solar System

1. Our Solar System

2. Inner, Rocky, Terrestrial Planets • 4 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, & Mars. • Solid surfaces • Similar in size • All quite close to the sun and closer to each other compared to the Outer Planets.

3. Mercury • Closest to the sun • Smallest • Surface has craters and cliffs, similar to Earth’s moon • No atmosphere • Extreme temperatures 425⁰C - -179⁰C • No moons • Revolution around the Sun takes 88 earth days • Rotation takes 59 Earth days to complete one turn.

4. Venus • Similar to Earth in size and mass • Thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide • Droplets of sulfuric acid gives it a yellow color. If it rain there it would be an “acid rain” • Surface has craters, cracks, and volcanoes • Greenhouse effect cause hot temps of 475⁰ C making it the hottest planet • No moons • Rotation is clockwise & takes 243 Earth days • Revolution is 225 Earth days • Sometimes referred to as “Earth’s Twin”

5. Earth • Sustains life • Surface temps allow water to exist as solid, liquid, & gas • Has one moon • Rotation is 24 hours • Revolution is 365 1/4 days

6. Mars • Red surface because of iron oxide in soil • Ice caps made of frozen waterand CO2 • Large volcanoes and valleys indicating flow of water at one time • Thin atmosphere of CO₂ • Temps range from -125⁰ C to 35⁰ C • 2 small moons • Revolution is 687 Earth days • Rotation is 24 hrs. & 37 minutes • Sometimes referred to as “The Red Planet”

7. Outer Planets, Gas Giants, Jovian Planets • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune • All made of gases • All have large number of moons orbiting them • All thought to also have rings, but Saturn having the most visible.

8. Jupiter • Mostly made of hydrogen and helium • Largest of the 8 planets with a Band of Rings and the Great Red Spot. • The Great Red Spot is a strong storm • 63 known moons: Io is the most volcanically active object in the solar system. Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system. • Rotation is 9 hrs. & 55 min. • Revolution is 12 Earth years.

9. Saturn • Made mostly of hydrogen and helium • Density is so low that it would float on water • Famous for Great Rings that are made of rock and ice particles. Size ranges from microscopic to house size. • 47 known moons. Titian being the largest and similar to earths atmosphere. • Rotation: 10 hrs. & 39 min. • Revolution: 29.5 Earth yrs.

10. Uranus • Composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane • Methane gives it it’s bluish green color • Tipped on it’s side, possible from a collision with a larger object similar to Earth in size • 27 known moons • Rotation: 16 hrs. & 7 minutes • Revolution: 84 years

11. Neptune • Twin of Uranus • Made of hydrogen, helium, and methane • Methane gives it it’s bluish-green color • Very active atmosphere with strong winds. • Great Dark Spot (storm): appears and disappears • 13 known moons: Triton ( Little Mermaid) • Rotation: 16 hrs. 7 min • Revolution: 165 years

12. Dwarf Planet - Pluto • Renamed in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union • Shared many characteristics as Ceres and Eris • Once Eris was discovered they decided to redefine the meaning of planets.

13. Comets -a small body of ice, rock,& cosmic dust loosely packed together.

14. Comets = Dirty Snowball

15. MeteorsShooting or Falling Stars • A small rocky body that revolves around the sun. • Usually burn up before striking the ground • Lots of meteors that burn at one time are called “Meteor Showers”

16. MeteoriteHits Right here on Earth • A meteor that doesn’t burn up and hits the surface of Earth or any other object becomes a Meteorite. • Probably pieces of an Asteroid • Craters are left on the surface after the impact Arizona

17. Asteroids • Asteroids are rocky and metallic objects that orbit the Sun but are too small to be considered planets. • Asteroid Belt is located between Mars and Jupiter