Solar System Planets

Mercury Closet to the sun Smallest planet Takes 88 Earth days to orbit the sun Rotates real slow; once every 59 Earth days Has an iron core, rocky mantle, & thin crust; like Earth

Venus 2nd planet from the sun Brightest object in sky besides the sun & moon Has phases like the moon but does not have a moon 6th largest planet Has iron core like Earth Rotates slowly; 1 day ~ 243 Earth days

Earth 3rd planet from the sun Atmosphere contains 21% oxygen 71% of surface is water Called the “blue planet” Carbon is found all through the Earth’s crust 5th largest planet Iron inner core, liquid outer core

Mars 4th planet from the sun Has similar tilt which gives it 4 seasons Has many same natural features as Earth Reddish color (due to rust) Began gathering data in the 1970’s Has dust storms Evidence there used to be water on the planet

Jupiter Largest planet in the solar system Great red spot is a large storm 320 x’s more massive than Earth Gravity is stronger than the Earth’s No surface, mostly gases of hydrogen & helium mixed w/other gases Radiates more energy than it receives from sunlight Spins on its axis every 10 hours

Saturn Rings are small particles orbiting the planet 60 moons orbit Saturn Referred to as a “gas giant” 6th planet from the sun 100 x’s as massive as Earth Low density Nicknamed “jewel of the solar system”

Uranus 7th planet from the sun 3rd largest planet Tipped on its side Takes 84 years to circle the sun Hard rocky core surrounded by gases Not a surface you could stand on Has bluish-green color

Neptune 8th planet from the sun Smallest of the gas giants 50 x’s size of Earth Upper atmosphere reaches 1,000 ° F Methane give Neptune its blue color Has several moons

Pluto No longer considered a planet Discovered in 1930 2006, scientists said it is not a planet Pluto is frozen & dark Pluto crosses the orbit of Neptune 2015, New Horizons Probe visited Pluto