1. The Inner Planets

2. Objective
1 Draw a diagram of the solar system and label all the planets as either terrestrial or gas giants.
2 Compare the structure, composition, and atmosphere of the inner planets to include: density, shape, size, and unusual characteristics.
4 Examine the orbital paths of planets and other astronomical bodies (comets and asteroids). Examine the theories of geocentric and heliocentric models and Kepler’s laws of motion.

3. ES 4
The student will investigate and understand the characteristics of the Earth and the solar system. Key concepts include
a. position of the Earth in the solar system
c. characteristics of the Sun, planets and their moons, comets, meteors, and asteroids; and

4. Enduring Understanding
The celestial bodies of our solar system differ as compared to Earth.

5. The Inner Planets
The eight traditional planets of the Solar System can be grouped into two main categories according to their basic properties. The four closest planets to the Sun are called the terrestrial planets.
Terrestrial planets are close to the size of Earth
Terrestrial planets all have solid, rocky surfaces***

6. The Inner Planets Mercury Closest*** planet to the Sun No moons
Very slow rotation
Very little atmosphere consisting of oxygen and sodium
Daytime surface temp is 427 C
Nighttime temp falls to -173 C

7. Surface of Mercury
Covered with craters and plains (similar to Luna)

8. Surface of Mercury
Plains are smooth with very few craters (similar to the maria)
Planetwide system of cliffs called scarps

9. Surface of Mercury
Possibly come from a shrinking crust fracturing

10. Interior of Mercury
Believed to be a high density iron-nickel core comprising about 42 percent of the volume
Possibly what Earth would look like if the crust and mantle were removed
Outer layers may have been lost in a collision

11. Venus Brightest object **in the nighttime sky No moons
Highest albedo of any planet
No moons
Very slow rotation (1Venus day = 243 Earth Days)
Clockwise spin (different than most solar system)****

12. Venus’ Atmosphere Average temp is 464 C (The hottest planet*****)
Composed of CO2*** (96.5%) and N (3.5%)
Pressure is 90 times Earth’s
Clouds are made of Sulfuric acid
Strong greenhouse effect****

13. Surface of Venus Evidence of recent Lava flows and few impact craters
Little evidence of current tectonic activity and no plates

14. Mercury and Venus (labelled)

15. Mars Called the red planet** because of the high soil iron content**
Two irregularly shaped moons: Phobos and Demios which are probably captured asteroids

16. Mars
Two irregularly shaped moons: Phobos and Demios which are probably captured asteroids

17. Mars’ Atmosphere
Similar to Venus, but far less dense therefore lower pressure
Weak greenhouse effect
Thin, but turbulent; constant winds drive dust storms that last for weeks at a time

18. Surface of Mars
Southern hemisphere is a heavily cratered highland region resembling the highlands on the Moon
Northern hemisphere is sparsely cratered plains with four gigantic shield volcanoes

19. Surface of Mars Olympus Mons****** is the largest volcano
in the Solar System it
is three times higher
than Mt. Everest and
covers an area the
size of Colorado

20. Surface of Mars
Valles Marineris*** is a 4,000 km canyon running along the Martian equator

21. Surface of Mars
There is extensive evidence of past areas of liquid water, dry river and lake beds and the polar caps are frozen CO2 with water ice beneath
“This is a
Nice planet
to visit, but
I would not
want to live
There.”

22. Surface of Mars
Mar’s Interior is Iron and Nickel and probably solid since Mars has no magnetic field