1. The Solar System

2. The Structure of the Solar System
The Sun
4 Inner planets
4 Jovian planets
8 Dwarf planets
30 objects highly likely to be dwarf planets
60 objects which are likely to be dwarf planets
103 objects which are probably dwarf planets
394 objects which are possibly dwarf planets

3. The Sun One of 100 billion stars in our galaxy
The largest object in our solar system.
Contains >99.8% of the mass in our solar system
70% H, 28% He
Energy produced by nuclear fusion

4. Mercury Closest planet to the sun (0.4 AU), an inner planet
Terrestrial
Named for Mercury, the Roman messenger of the Gods
Similar in size to our moon (0.4x the size of Earth)
Iron-nickel core with silicate mantle

5. Mercury Takes 59 days to spin on its axis 88 days to orbit the sun
Gravity is 0.38x that of Earth’s
HOT days and COLD nights (-183C – 427C)
Atmosphere of sodium and helium
No moons known

6. Venus Inner planet, 0.7 AU from sun Named for the Goddess of Love
We can see it in the sky
Similar to Earth’s mass and diameter
Thick atmosphere of CO2, nitrogen and sulphuric acid
Very hot 480⁰C (runaway greenhouse effect)
Spins opposite of other planets, takes 243 days to spin

7. Venus One year = 224 Earth days Gravity is 0.9x that of Earth’s
No known moons

8. Earth Largest of the inner planets Liquid water helps support life
Crust, mantle, liquid core, solid core
Mantle consists of Mg, Fe, SiO4
Core consists of Fe and Ni
Not too hot, not too cold!

9. Earth An inner planet, 1.0 AU from the sun
Takes 23h, 56 min to spin on its axis
Takes days to orbit the sun
Average temperature is 14C
Atmosphere is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen
One moon – “the moon”

10. Mars Named after the Roman god of war
Red in colour (iron oxide, Fe2O3)
Atmosphere of Carbon Dioxide (95.3%) and Argon
0.5 x Earth’s diameter
1.5 AU from the sun (inner planet)
A day on Mars is just a few minutes longer than on Earth (24 hours, 37 min)

11. Mars 2 moons: phobos and deimos Average Temp: -63C
Olympus Mons – the largest volcano in the solar system (3x height of Mt. Everest)
Water on Mars (but not as much as Earth)
Locked in permafrost in ice caps
2 moons: phobos and deimos
Average Temp: -63C
Takes 687 days to orbit the sun
Gravity 0.38 of Earth’s

12. Asteroid Belt Between Mars and Jupiter
Total mass would equal 10% of Earth’s moon
Ceres is the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system

13. Jupiter Named after Roman king of the gods
5.2 AU from the Sun (outer planet)
Largest planet (11.2x the size of Earth)
Giant gas ball (atmosphere of H and He)
Solid core of Fe, rock, and H2O

14. Jupiter 66 moons discovered
Huge storms – largest storm is the Great Red Spot (so big, all of Earth could fit in it!)
Very faint rings
Average temp: -130C
Gravity: 2.64 x Earth’s
1 day = 9h, 55 min
1 year = years

15. Saturn Named after Roman god of agriculture
Large and beautiful ring system
Ice with some rocky material
Atmosphere of H and He
Lightest of all planets
62 moons discovered
Titan is a bit larger than Mercury

16. Saturn 9.6 AU from sun 9.5 x the size of Earth
1 day = 10 hours, 39 min
1 year = 29 years
Gravity is 1.16x Earth’s
Average Temp: -130C

17. Uranus Named after Greek god of the sky Coldest planet (-200C!)
Blue-green colour ( Hydrogen, Helium and Methane atmosphere)
Tilted axis; spins on its side
One hemisphere almost all day, other almost all night

18. Uranus 27 known moons Outer planet, 19.2 AU from sun
4x the size of Earth
1 day = 17h, 14min
1 year = 84 years
Gravity = 1.11x Earth’s

19. Neptune Named after Roman god of seas
Smallest of gas planets (3.9x Earth)
Strong winds – up to 2000km/h
Also has methane in atmosphere
causes green/blue colour
Atmosphere is H, He, and methane (CH4)
Large storms – also has a ‘dark spot’
13 moons (including Tritan)

20. Neptune 30.0 AU away from the sun (farthest ‘planet’) (outer planet)
1 day = 16h, 7 min
1 year = years
Gravity is 1.21x that on Earth
Cold! About -200C

21. Dwarf Planets (Including Pluto)
A dwarf planet is a celestial body that:
Orbits the sun.
Has enough mass to assume a nearly round shape.
Has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.
Is not a moon.
The first five recognized dwarf planets are Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Makemake and Haumea.

22. Dwarf Planets (Including Pluto)
30 objects highly likely to be dwarf planets
60 objects which are likely to be dwarf planets
103 objects which are probably dwarf planets
394 objects which are possibly dwarf planets