a tour through the solar system

The Planets:A Tour Through

the Solar System

The Solar System to Scale by Size

The Solar System to Scale by Distance

If the Sun was 2/3 the

size of a golf ball, and

placed at the goal line… =

Guess How Far Mercury Would be

Mercury would be 1/10

the size of the tip of a ball

point pen, and be placed at

the 1 yard line.

Mercury

Which is Mercury & Which is the Moon?

A OR B

Answer:

Surface of Mercury

Mercury looks like the

moon. It has many craters

and smooth plains.

The Sun never shines on the North Pole,

so the negative 370° F temperatures froze

≈ 1 trillion tons of ice inside craters

Mercury: Atmosphere

Mercury does not have an

atmosphere like the Earth’s

Mercury has an exosphere, a thin

region of hydrogen, helium and

oxygen molecules that don’t

behave like gases

4 - 12 miles

31 miles

53 miles

62 miles

430 miles

6,200 miles

Temperature on Mercury

Day-time temperatures reach

800° Fahrenheit.

Night-time temperatures

reach – 280° F

The temperature never rises

above – 136° F at the poles.

Moons of Mercury

This is how many moons Mercury has…

Unfortunately, Mercury is all alone, with

no moons to keep it company

Mercury: Naked-

Eye Viewing

Mercury is always close

to the sun, so it can

only be seen when the

Sun is low on the

horizon.

It is visible soon before

sunrise in the southern

hemisphere and soon

after sunset in the

northern hemisphere.

Mercury: Year and Day

Mercury revolves quickly:

It takes 87.969 Earth days to

orbit the Sun.

But rotates slowly: Each day on

Mercury lasts 58 days, 15 hours,

and 30 minutes.

Habitable Zone

A habitable zone is a region around a star,

like our Sun, in which a planet can have

liquid water and possibly support life.

All life as we know it needs water to live.

Life on Mercury?

Mercury is not within the habitable zone for

liquid water, and life probably never existed.

Mercury ranges from – 280°- 800° Fahrenheit,

Has no atmosphere, and has been

bombarded by many asteroid impacts.

All Things Mercury!

Element:

Mercury

Nevada

Mercury

Montclair

1940 Mercury Dime

USS Mercury

Mercury

Records

What is Mercury?

The Planet Venus

Guess How Far Venus Would be

Mercury

Mercury = 1st yard line

Venus would be ¼ the

size of the tip of a ball

point pen, and be placed

at the 2 yard line.

Mercury

Surface of VenusVenus has about 1,000

impact craters across its

surface. Without plate

tectonics, these craters

will stay prestine.

Venus also has several times more volcanoes

than the Earth. The largest volcano on

Venus is Maat Mons, a shield volcano.

Radar Image of Venus

Real image from a Probe – Venera 13

Venus: Atmosphere

Venus was named after the

Roman goddess of beauty,

but what the Romans

didn’t know was that its

filled with deadly gases

and sulfuric acid rain that

could melt your skin

Venus has a very dense

atmosphere of carbon dioxide

and clouds of sulfur dioxide.

Its pressure is 93 times that

of Earth’s atmosphere.

Artist impression of a probe

landing on Venus

Temperature on Venus

Night-time temperatures are

the same due to heat transfer

by strong winds.

The atmosphere of Venus traps

in heat, causing it to have higher

temperatures than Mercury even though

its farther away from the sun.

Day-time temperatures reach 864° Fahrenheit.

Artist impression

Moons of Venus

Just like Mercury, Venus also does not

have any moons.

Venus: Naked-Eye

Viewing

After the Sun and Moon,

Venus is the brightest

object in the sky.

It is so bright, it can be

seen in a mid-day clear sky.

It can be seen when the

Sun is low on the horizon.

Venus: Year and Day

It takes Venus 225 days to orbit

the Sun, but takes 243 days to

rotate once.

In other words, a day on Venus

is longer than a year.

Life on Venus?

Venus is within the inner boundary of the

habitable zone, but its deadly atmosphere

and volcanic surface would make life

difficult.

The upper atmosphere of

Venus; however, could have life.

Life on Venus?

Artist impression of probe entering its atmosphere

About 40 miles above the surface, temperature

and pressure is similar to Earth; there is also

water vapor and oxygen. It is possible due to

bacteria being able to live in Earth’s clouds.

What is Venus?

Guess How Far Earth Would be

Mercury

Venus = 2nd yard line

Earth would be ¼ the

at the 3 yard line.

Mercury

Surface of EarthAbout 71% of Earth’s surface

is covered with water. The

oceans hold 96.5% of all

Earth’s water.

Earth has:1,500 1,000 185 Thousands

Active Natural Impact of

volcanoes Geysers Craters Mountains

Earth: Atmosphere

Earth’s Atmosphere extends to 6,200

miles above sea level to a layer called

the exosphere. Atoms and molecules

here are so far apart they don’t behave

like a gas and escape into space.

Earth’s lower

atmosphere is

78% nitrogen

and 21%

oxygen4 - 12 miles

31 miles

53 miles

62 miles

430 miles

6,200 miles

Temperature on Earth

The highest recorded

temperature was

159.26°F in the Lut

Desert of Iran in 2005

The lowest recorded

temperature was -

128.56°F in Vostok

Antarctica

Due to the seasons on Earth, climate and

temperatures vary greatly: However, the

average temperature is about 59° Fahrenheit

Moons of EarthEarth only has one moon

and because it is in

synchronous rotation

with the Earth, it only

shows one side of itself.

The United States

Apollo 11 was the first

manned mission to land

on the Moon, on July

20th 1969

Question:

• How many days does it take Earth to Orbit the Sun?

Earth: Year

It takes Earth 365.24 days to orbit the sun.

Question:

• How long does it take earth to make one rotation?

Earth: Day

It takes Earth 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.1

seconds to make one rotation. The 4 minutes

each day adds up, causing an extra day added

in February which occurs once every 4 years.

This is called a leap year.

What is Earth?

Guess How Far Mars Would be

Mercury

Earth = 3rd yard line

Mars would be 1/10 the

at the 5 yard line.

Mercury

Surface of MarsCalled the “Red Planet”

because of the the iron

oxide (rust) on its surface.

Has the largest volcano in

the Solar System:

Olympus Mons

Mars has many impact

craters, valleys, and deserts

across its surface.

Mars: Atmosphere

Mars has the largest dust storms in

the Solar System.

They can sometimes

cover the entire

planet and occur

when Mars is closest

to Sun.

The Atmosphere of Mars

is 96% carbon dioxide, and

is very dusty, giving the

atmosphere an orange-brown color.

It is 100 times thinner than Earth’s.

Temperature on Mars

Due to axial tilt, Mars has seasons

like Earth. Day-time

temperatures reach 70°F in

summer, but at night

it can drop to -100°F

This wide range in temperatures

is due to a very thin atmosphere

The Poles can get as low as –196°F

Martian Sunset

Moons of MarsAsaph Hall discovered each moon of

Mars in 1877, & was actually looking

for moons of Mars at the time.

One hypothesis of

the origin of the

moons is that they

are both captured

asteroids.

Relative size & distance between Mars, Phobos, & Deimos

Deimos

Phobos

Earth’s

Phobos

Deimos

Mars: Naked-Eye

Viewing

Mars is slightly dimmer

than Sirius, the brightest

star in the night sky.

Depending on the time of

the year, Mars can be seen

anywhere from directly

above you, to the horizon.

Mars: Year and Day

Mars revolves slowly:

It takes 687 Earth days to orbit

the Sun, compared Earth’s 365.

Rotates similar to Earth: Each day

on Venus lasts 1 day, 40 minutes.

Only 40 minutes difference

Life on Mars?Mars is within the habitable zone,

but no evidence of past or present life

has been found, plus it is too cold for

liquid water. The surface is not toxic,

but its exposed to radiation, and is

completely frozen. The curiosity

rover is still exploring Mars.

What is Mars?

Jupiter

Guess How Far Jupiter Would be

Mercury

Mars = 5th yard line

Jupiter would be 2/3 the

size of a BB gun pellet,

and be placed at the 17

yard line.

Mercury

Jupiter

Jupiter: Surface

Because Jupiter is a gas giant,

there is no surface in which to

walk, just layers of clouds.

However, the “surface” is defined

as when the pressure of its

atmosphere reaches that of

Earth’s surface.

There are 3 layers of clouds on

Jupiter: one layer is made of

ammonia, the other ammonia and

sulfur, and one with small

amounts of water vapor.

Jupiter: Core to Atmosphere

The core of Jupiter is believed to

be made of rocky material

Outside the core the pressure is so

high hydrogen gas exists in liquid

form, called metallic hydrogen

The outer atmosphere is

mostly hydrogen and helium

Jupiter: Atmosphere

There are many belts on Jupiter in which the

atmosphere moves at 180 miles per hour

The Great Red Spot is a massive storm so large that

three Earth’s could fit inside.

Temperature on Jupiter

The average temperature on Jupiter is a

frigid -234°F; however, the temperature

rises towards the core.

The “surface” of Jupiter, where

its atmospheric pressure is

equal to Earth’s is a very hot

152°F. About the same

temperature as the hottest

Ever recorded temperature

on earth.

Moons of Jupiter

Jupiter has 67 moons, the

largest amount of any

planet in the Solar System

The largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede & Callisto

are the Galilean moons; named after Galileo Galilei,

who discovered

them in 1610.

Ganymede is the

largest moon of

Jupiter, and the

largest moon in

the Solar System.

Jupiter

EuropaIo

Ganymede

Callisto

Jupiter: Naked-Eye

Viewing

Jupiter is the second

brightest planet, after

Venus in the night sky.

Jupiter is even brighter

than Sirius, the brightest

star in the night sky.

Depending on the time of

the year, Jupiter can be

seen directly above, or low

on the horizon.

Jupiter: Year and Day

Jupiter takes 11.86 Earth years to

orbit the Sun, compared Earth’s

A day on Jupiter lasts 9

hours and 50 minutes.

It is also the fastest

spinning planet,

moving at a rate of

28,273 miles per hour.

Life on Jupiter?

No life is known to exist on

Jupiter; however, if life

were to exist, it would be

unlike any life on Earth.

Organisms would have to

be able to withstand

extreme temperatures,

breath hydrogen or

helium, and eat chemicals

like methane or ammonia.

What is Jupiter?

Saturn

Guess How Far Saturn Would be

Mercury

Jupiter

Jupiter = 17th yard line

Saturn would be ½ the

the size of a BB gun pellet,

yard line.

Mercury

JupiterSaturn

Saturn: Surface

Just like Jupiter, Saturn is a gas giant and there is

no surface in which to walk. Saturn also has

clouds with the same composition as Jupiter.

Saturn: Atmosphere

Saturn has colorful layers below the surface, but

they can’t be seen because the upper atmosphere is

too thick to see them. This is due to its weaker

gravity allowing

The atmosphere to

stretch out farther.

Wind speeds on

Saturn are very

high, measuring

slightly more than

1,000 mph

Temperature on Saturn

Saturn is colder than Jupiter with an

average temperature of -288°F.

Most of Saturn’s heat comes from its interior

(due to high pressures), rather than from

the Sun.

Moons of Saturn

Jupiter has 62 moons, 53 of which have names and

only 13 are larger than 30 miles

Saturn’s largest moon is

Titan, the only moon in the

Solar System that has an

atmosphere of its own.

Saturn: Naked-Eye ViewingSaturn, even at maximum brightness

(closest to the Earth) is not as bright as

Sirius, the brightest star.

Depending on the time of the year, Saturn

can be seen anywhere from directly above

you, to the horizon.

Saturn: Year and Day

Saturn revolves very slowly:

It takes 29.7 Earth years to orbit

the Sun.

Saturn rotates so

quickly that one

day lasts 10 hours,

45 minutes, and 45

seconds.

Life on Saturn?

Saturn. Just like Jupiter,

life would have to find a

way to exist in clouds of

hydrogen, helium,

ammonia, and extreme

pressures that would

crush it.

What is Saturn?

Uranus

Guess How Far Uranus Would be

Mercury

JupiterSaturn

Saturn = 32nd yard line

Uranus would be ¼ the

yard line.

Mercury

JupiterSaturn Uranus

Uranus: Surface

Just like Jupiter & Saturn, Uranus is a gas giant

and there is no surface in which to walk. Uranus

also has clouds with the same composition as

Jupiter and Saturn.

Uranus: Atmosphere

Uranus gets its blue-green color from methane gas

in its atmosphere.

Like the other gas

giants, Uranus is

primarily composed

of hydrogen and

helium.

Temperature on Uranus

Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar

system with an average temperature of

-404°F.

Uranus is the coldest planet even though it

is not the most distant because its core is

not as hot from pressure as the other

planets.

Moons of Uranus

Uranus has 27 known moons, all of which are named

from the works of William Shakespeare & Alexander

Titania is the largest moon of Uranus,

and is made out of rock and ice. It is

named after the queen of the fairies in

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s

Dream.

Miranda

Ariel UmbrielTitania Oberon

Uranus and its 6 largest moons compared at their relative positions & sizes

Uranus: Naked-Eye ViewingUranus can be seen with the naked eyes;

but most people will never see it. A

person with very good eyes, under no light

pollution, and knowledge of exactly

where to look would see it as a “faint

star” in the sky.

Amateur Photograph of Uranus through

a telescope under dark skies

Uranus: Year and Day

Uranus revolves very slowly:

It takes 84.3 Earth years to orbit

the Sun. Many people would

never experience their first

birthday on Uranus.

Uranus rotates quickly:

One day lasts 17 hours, 14

minutes, and 24 seconds

Life on Uranus?

Uranus. Just like Jupiter

and Saturn, life would

have to find a way to exist

in clouds of hydrogen and

helium with ices such as

methane and ammonia.

What is Uranus?

Neptune

Guess How Far Neptune Would be

Mercury

JupiterSaturn Uranus

Saturn = 32nd yard line

Uranus = 64th yard line

Neptune would be ¼ the

yard line.

Mercury

JupiterSaturn Uranus Neptune

Neptune: Surface

Just like Jupiter, Saturn & Uranus, Neptune is a

gas giant and there is no surface in which to walk.

Neptune also has clouds with the same composition

as Jupiter.

Neptune: Atmosphere

Neptune gets its blue color from methane gas in its

atmosphere.

NASA is uncertain as to why Neptune is bluer than

Uranus, but it must be due to some unknown

component.

Uranus Neptune

Temperature on Neptune

Neptune has a tilt similar to that of Earth’s,

so Neptune goes through seasons. Since

Neptune is very far from Earth, each season

is very cold. The average temperature on

Neptune is –328°F.

Moons of Neptune

Neptune has 14 known moons, all of which are

named for water deities in Greek mythology.

Triton is the largest moon of Neptune,

and is the only moon in the Solar System

that orbits its planet in the opposite

direction. It’s surface is mostly frozen

nitrogen with a crust of ice water.

Triton was pictured

next to Neptune

during the Voyager

2 mission in 1989

Neptune: Naked-Eye ViewingNeptune at maximum brightness is just

barely within the range capable of being

viewed by humans under the darkest of

skies.

Because Neptune

is so close to being

out of range of

human eyesight,

nobody has ever

seen it with their

naked eyes.

Amateur Photograph of Neptune

through a telescope under dark skies

Neptune: Year and Day

Uranus revolves very slowly:

It takes 164.79 years to orbit the

Sun. Even Jeanne Calment, the

oldest person to ever live (122

years) wouldn’t have made it to

her first birthday.

Neptune rotates quickly:

One day lasts 16 hours, 6

minutes, and 36 seconds

Life on Neptune?

Neptune. Just like

Jupiter, Saturn and

Uranus, life would have to

find a way to exist in

clouds of hydrogen and

helium with ices such as

methane and ammonia.

What is Neptune?

–26.74 The Sun

–12.92 Full Moon: Maximum brightness

–7.50 The supernova of 1006 AD, the brightest stellar event in recorded history

–6.50 The total brightness of the entire night sky as seen from Earth

–6.00 The Crab Supernova of 1054 AD

–5.9 International Space Station (when the ISS is fully lit by the Sun)

–4.89 Maximum brightness of Venus

–3.82 Minimum brightness of Venus

–2.94 Maximum brightness of Jupiter

–2.91 Maximum brightness of Mars

–2.50 Minimum brightness of the moon (New Moon)

–2.45 Maximum brightness of Mercury

–1.61 Minimum brightness of Jupiter

–1.47 Sirius: The brightest star (except for the Sun)

–0.72 Canpous: Second-brightest star

–0.49 Maximum brightness of Saturn

–0.27 Alpha Centauri AB star system: Third-brightest star

–0.04 Arcturus: Fourth-brightest star (No more stars are listed after this point)

1.47 Minimum brightness of Saturn

1.84 Minimum brightness of Mars

3 to 4 Faintest stars visible in an urban neighborhood with naked eye

3.44 The Andromeda Galaxy

4.38 Maximum brightness of Ganymede (moon of Jupiter & the largest moon)

5.32 Maximum brightness of Uranus

5.73 Minimum brightness of Mercury

5.95 Minimum brightness of Uranus

6.64 Maximum brightness of dwarf planet Ceres in the asteroid belt

6.75 Maximum brightness of asteroid Iris

7 to 8 Extreme naked eye limit: (person with extremely good eyes) in a class 1 Bortle Sky (best night skies on Earth)

7.78 Maximum brightness of Neptune

8.02 Minimum brightness of Neptune

8.10 Maximum brightness of Titan (largest moon of Saturn)

9.50 Faintest objects visible using common 7x50 binoculars under typical conditions

13.42 Maximum brightness of Triton (moon of Neptune)

13.65 Maximum brightness of Pluto

List of the

Brightest

Naked-Eye

Celestial

Objects

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