The Inner PlanetsThe Inner Planets

The Inner Planets are:The Inner Planets are:

Small: Compared to the Outer PlanetsSmall: Compared to the Outer Planets Rocky: Rocky surface – thin atmosphere Rocky: Rocky surface – thin atmosphere Dense: Heavy for their sizeDense: Heavy for their size

Inner Planets – Terrestrial PlanetsInner Planets – Terrestrial Planets

The Inner Planets are also called the The Inner Planets are also called the

Terrestrial PlanetsTerrestrial Planets

MercuryMercury

• Smallest Inner PlanetSmallest Inner Planet• Thin Atmosphere – SodiumThin Atmosphere – Sodium• Day: 59 Earth days (rotation)Day: 59 Earth days (rotation)• Year: 88 Earth days (revolution)Year: 88 Earth days (revolution)• Temp: Day: 425 deg. CelsiusTemp: Day: 425 deg. Celsius Night: -180 deg. CelsiusNight: -180 deg. Celsius• Mariner 10 space probeMariner 10 space probe Messenger (2009)Messenger (2009)• No MoonsNo Moons• Many craters…. Many craters….

MercuryMercury

VenusVenus

• About the same size as earthAbout the same size as earth• Many clouds-sulfuric acidMany clouds-sulfuric acid• High Temp.-Greenhouse effectHigh Temp.-Greenhouse effect >450 deg. Celsius>450 deg. Celsius• Carbon dioxide atmosphereCarbon dioxide atmosphere• VolcanoesVolcanoes• Retrograde Rotation: backwardsRetrograde Rotation: backwards• No MoonsNo Moons• Day:243 earth days Day:243 earth days • Year: 225 earth daysYear: 225 earth days• Magellan probe mapped surfaceMagellan probe mapped surface

VenusVenus

EarthEarth

• The only planet with a lot of liquid The only planet with a lot of liquid water.water.

• Active PlanetActive Planet weather-volcanoes-earthquakesweather-volcanoes-earthquakes• Atmosphere: Nitrogen-oxygenAtmosphere: Nitrogen-oxygen• 1 large Moon1 large Moon• Day: 24 hoursDay: 24 hours• Year: 365 ¼ daysYear: 365 ¼ days

EarthEarth

MarsMars• The Red Planet-rust in the soilThe Red Planet-rust in the soil• Polar ice capsPolar ice caps• 2 Moons – Phobos, Deimos2 Moons – Phobos, Deimos• Largest Volcano-Olympus MonsLargest Volcano-Olympus Mons• Many non-active volcanoesMany non-active volcanoes• Viking-pathfinder-spirit-opportunityViking-pathfinder-spirit-opportunity• ½ the size of earth- ½ gravity½ the size of earth- ½ gravity• Day: 24.5 hoursDay: 24.5 hours• Year: 688 earth daysYear: 688 earth days• Temp: -57 deg. CelsiusTemp: -57 deg. Celsius• Atmosphere: Thin-carbon dioxideAtmosphere: Thin-carbon dioxide

MarsMars

MercuryMercury

From Mariner From Mariner

Mercury transits Mercury transits the Sunthe Sun

VenusVenus

From MagellanFrom Magellan

Brightest object Brightest object after the Sun and after the Sun and the Moonthe Moon

EarthEarth

From SpaceFrom Space

At NightAt Night

MarsMars

MarsMars

Face on Mars….before and afterFace on Mars….before and after