What are the inner planets?

The four planets closest to the sun are known as the inner planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Mercury

This picture of Mercury was

made by joining many smaller

photos taken by Mariner 10. No

photos were taken of the area that looks smooth.

MercuryMercury is the planet closest to

the Sun. It is a small planet, a little bigger

than Earth’s moon. Mercury is covered with

thousands of dents. The dents are shaped like bowls and are called craters.

Craters were made when meteorites crashed into Mercury’s surface long ago.

Venus

VenusVenus is the second planet

from the Sun. It is about the same size as Earth,

but Venus turns in the opposite direction.

Like Mercury, Venus is very hot and dry.

Unlike Mercury, Venus has an atmosphere made of thick, swirling clouds.

Using the chart, What is one reason people cannot live on Mercury or Venus?

They are both too hot to live on!

Using the chart, how much longer is Venus’ Earth year?

137 years longer

Earth

EarthEarth, our home, is the third

planet from the Sun. It is also the solar system’s

largest rocky planet. Earth is the only planet that

has liquid water on its surface. In fact, most of Earth’s surface is covered with water.Earth is the only planet in the

solar system known to support life.

Earth’s Moon

Moons are satellites of planets. A satellite is an object that

orbits another object in space.Just as planets revolve around

the Sun because of gravity, moons revolve around planets.Earth has one large moon. The diameter of the Moon is

about one-fourth the diameter of Earth.

Earth’s Moon

Mars

The fourth planet from the Sun is Mars. The rocks and soil that cover

much of Mars contain the mineral iron oxide. This mineral is reddish-brown

in color. It is the same material that makes up rust. This has given Mars its

nickname, the "Red Planet."

Mars

How much lighter is a 100 pound person on Mars?

62 pounds

Why is the average surface temperature considerably lower on Mars compared to Earth

It is farther from the sun.

The Four Inner PlanetsMercury

Venus

Mars

Earth

Quiz Time!

Let’s see how you do locating the planet!

Earth Mars

This Planet has an atmosphere made of thick, swirling clouds.

Find the planet

Venus

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

Earth Mars

This planet is closest to the sun.

Find the planet

Mercury

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

Earth Mars

This is the fourth planet from the sun.

Find the planet

Venus

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

Earth Mercury

This is the largest of the inner planets.

Find the planet

Venus

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

What are the Outer planets?

The four planets farthest from the sun are known as the outer planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Jupiter

JupiterJupiter, the fifth planet from

the Sun, is a gas giant. A gas giant is a very large

planet made mostly of gases.Jupiter is the largest planet in

our solar system. In fact, if it were hollow, it is so big that all of the other planets could fit inside it!

Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter has many moons.Galileo was the first

person to see the four largest moons through his telescope in 1610.

They are about the size of Earth's moon.

One Example is Europa – This is the smoothest object in the solar system.

Jupiter’s atmosphere has a weather system called the Great Red Spot that has been raging for centuries.It is a disturbance more than three timesthe size of Earth.

Saturn

Saturn The sixth planet from the Sun, Saturn is also a gas giant.

Like Jupiter, Saturn’s atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium.

The Voyager space probe explored Saturn’s rings. It showed that the particles that make up the rings range in size from tiny grains toboulders.

Saturn’s Moons

Using the chart, What is one reason people cannot live on Jupiter and Saturn?

They are both too cold to live on!

Using the chart, What planet has more moons?

Jupiter with at least 63!

hmmm I wonder why it says “at least” for

the number of moons??

Uranus

Uranus In 1781, William Herschel discovered a

seventh planet orbiting the Sun. The gas giant Uranus is the farthest planet you

can see without a telescope.Uranus is so cold that the methane is a liquid. Tiny drops of liquid methane form a thin cloud

that covers the planet. This gives Uranus its fuzzy blue-green look.

Uranus rotates on its side. No one knows for sure why Uranus has this odd tilt. Scientists think that a very large

object may have collided with the planet when

the solar system was still forming. This bump may

have knocked Uranus onto its side.

Neptune

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. It is the smallest of the gas giants.

Even so, if Neptune were hollow, it could hold about 60 Earths.

It is so far away that it can't be seen without a telescope.

In 1846 astronomers discovered Neptune.

A few days later they spotted Triton, Neptune's largest moon.

Neptune

Which planet has a larger diameter?

Uranus

How much longer is the Earth day on Uranus?

One hour

The Four Outer PlanetsJupiter Saturn

Neptune

Uranus

Galileo GalileiGalileo lived from 1564

to 1642. He was a mathematician and

astronomer. He agreed with Copernicus that

all planets revolve around the Sun. Galileo used a

telescope to observe the Sun, Moon,

planets, and stars.

When I saw Saturn through my telescope, I

was surprised. I saw what looked like a

planet with handles! The “handles” were actually the brilliant

ring system that orbits the planet.

What’s The Matter With Pluto!?!

What’s The Matter With Pluto!?!

Until 2006, Pluto was considered a ninth planet. But Pluto is different from the eight planets in several ways. Now scientists refer to Pluto as a dwarf planet. A dwarf planet is a small, ball-shaped object that revolves around the Sun.

Quiz Time!

Let’s see how you do locating the planet!

Jupiter Neptune

The farthest planet you can see without a telescope.

Find the planet

Uranus

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

Jupiter Neptune

The largest planet in our solar system.

Find the planet

Saturn

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

Jupiter Neptune

The smallest planet of all the gas giants.

Find the planet

Saturn

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

Jupiter Neptune

This Planet has a weather system called the “Great Red Spot”.

Find the planet

Saturn

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids!

Jupiter Uranus

This Planet rotates on its side.

Find the planet

Saturn

Oh no! Quick guess again!

Great Job Kids! You passed!

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