The Solar System

Astronomical Unit An astronomical unit is a unit of distance equal to the distance between the sun and the Earth. Abbreviated AU

Inner Planets The four planets closest to the sun All are solid, rocky

Earth- The Blue Marble

Mars- The Red Planet

Asteroid Belt Object Position from the sunSizePhysical TraitsRocky?Interesting Facts Mercury1smallest planet yes Inner Planets Venus2 almost identical to Earth acid atmosphere with extreme high tempyes hotter than Mercury, greenhouse effect Earth3 only planet with liquid wateryesBlue Marble Mars4 about half the size of Earthhas icy polesyesRed Planet Asteroids vary - dust to several miles across iron, stone or stoney- ironsyes Ceres is the largest known asteroid

Outer Planets The four planets furthest from the sun, past the asteroid belt All are gaseous, “Gas Giants” All the outer planets have rings!

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

Uranus’s Tilted Axis

Neptune

Object Position from the sunSizePhysical TraitsRocky?Interesting Facts Mercury1smallest planet yes Inner Planets Venus2 almost identical to Earth acid atmosphere with extreme high tempyes hotter than Mercury, greenhouse effect Earth3 only planet with liquid wateryesBlue Marble Mars4 about half the size of Earthhas icy polesyesRed Planet Asteroids vary - dust to several miles across iron, stone or stoney- ironsyes Jupiter5 largest planet, 11 times the size of EarthGreat Red Spotno Outer Planets Saturn69.4 times Earthringsnowould float on water Uranus74 times Earthknocked on its sidenoknocked on its side Neptune8 almost 4 times Earth no rains diamonds, Great Dark Spot Comets vary ice, dust and rock combination some are tail always faces away from the sun

Comet Tails always face away from the sun!

Our Solar System

Summary An astronomical unit is a unit of distance equal to the distance between the sun and the Earth. Abbreviated AU The Inner Planets: the four planets closest to the sun, all are solid, rocky, and small with few, or no, moons The Outer Planets: the four planets furthest from the sun, past the asteroid belt, all are huge, gaseous (“Gas Giants”), all the outer planets have rings!