Our Solar System SC.5.E.5.2/SC.5.E.5.3 Recognize the major common characteristics of all planets and compare/contrast the properties of inner and outer planets. Distinguish among the following objects of the Solar System — Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets — and identify Earth’s position in it.. Today, we are going to look at the characteristics of the planets in our solar system. You probably already know that the planets differ in size, characteristics, and composition. All the planets also orbit the sun in our solar system. SC.5.E.5.2/SC.5.E.5.3

Inner and Outer Planets INNER PLANETS Mercury Venus Earth Mars OUTER PLANETS Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune The planets in our solar system are divided into inner and outer planets. There are four inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The inner planets are smaller and have fewer moons than the outer planets. All the inner planets are also made up of rock. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These are very large planets made up of gas. Many of these planets have several moons and/or rings. Pluto is considered to be a dwarf planet. Inner and Outer Planets DWARF PLANET Pluto

MERCURY The closest planet to the sun MERCURY The closest planet to the sun. Gets extremely hot during the day. VENUS The second closest planet to the sun. The diameter of Venus is similar to Earth Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Because of this, it is extremely hot during the day. But due to the lack of atmosphere on Mercury, the temperatures drop very low at night. Venus is the second closest planet to the sun. Venus is very similar in size to the Earth.

EARTH The third planet from the sun EARTH The third planet from the sun. Called the Blue Planet because of the liquid water on its surface. MARS The fourth planet from the sun. Called the Red Planet because its surface is reddish in color. Earth, where we live, is the third planet from the sun. Earth is called the “Blue Planet” because of the liquid water on its surface. Earth is the only planet with liquid water. Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, is called the “Red Planet” because of its reddish surface color.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ASTEROIDS Small celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun Made up of rocks and metals There are millions of asteroids Asteroids are small celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun. An asteroid is made up of rocks and metals. Asteroids are found mostly in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. There are millions of asteroids in our solar system. Found mostly in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter

The Asteroid Belt is located between Mars and Jupiter.

JUPITER The largest planet in our solar system. SATURN Planet with the obvious rings. The second largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system with a very thick atmosphere of hydrogen gas. Saturn is the planet with the obvious rings. It is the second largest planet in our solar system.

URANUS The seventh planet from the sun. Nicknamed the Ice Planet. NEPTUNE The eighth planet from the sun. Uranus, nicknamed the “Ice Planet,” is the seventh planet from the sun. It is very cold on this planet. So cold in fact, that scientists believe its surface is a mixture of frozen substances. Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun.

PLUTO Smaller than any of the official planets PLUTO Smaller than any of the official planets. Classified as a dwarf planet. Pluto is smaller than any of the official planets and recently became downgraded to a dwarf planet.

Order of the Planets Sun Neptune Mars Saturn Jupiter Pluto Venus Uranus Earth The planets revolve around the sun in a particular order. Closest to the sun is Mercury, then Venus, Earth and Mars, then Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and finally, Pluto. Mercury Sun

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMETS Small celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun Made up of ice, dust, and small rocks Vaporize when they come into close proximity with the Sun, forming a tail. There are only 3,572 known comets. Comets are small celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun. A comet is made up of ice, dust, and small rocks comets are formed farther from the Sun. When comets, during their orbit, come into close proximity with the Sun, they lose mass as the ice melts and vaporize to form a tail. There are millions of asteroids but there are only 3,572 known comets. Comets are formed in the solar system beyond the dwarf planet, Pluto.

Most comets are found in the Kuiper Belt outside of Pluto’s orbit.