the solar system. composed of the following sun sun planets planets moons moons asteroids asteroids...

The Solar SystemThe Solar System

The Solar SystemThe Solar System

Composed of the followingComposed of the following SunSun PlanetsPlanets MoonsMoons AsteroidsAsteroids CometsComets MeteroidsMeteroids

General InformationGeneral Information

The Sun takes up 99.85% of the Mass of The Sun takes up 99.85% of the Mass of the Solar systemthe Solar system

Each planet moves around the sun in an Each planet moves around the sun in an elliptical orbitelliptical orbit

The PlanetsThe Planets

Two Types of PlanetsTwo Types of Planets TerrestialTerrestial

• Mercury, Venus, Earth and MarsMercury, Venus, Earth and Mars• Small and rockySmall and rocky

Jovian Jovian • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and NeptuneJupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune• Huge Gas GiantsHuge Gas Giants

Pluto does not fit neatly into either categoryPluto does not fit neatly into either category

ComparisonsComparisons

SizeSize Inner Planets (Terrestial) smallerInner Planets (Terrestial) smaller Earth is ¼ the size of smallest Jovian planet Earth is ¼ the size of smallest Jovian planet

(Neptune)(Neptune) DensityDensity

The inner planets are more denseThe inner planets are more dense Differ because of chemical compositionDiffer because of chemical composition

Interiors of the PlanetsInteriors of the Planets

3 substances make up the interior of the 3 substances make up the interior of the planetsplanets GasesGases

• Hydrogen and HeliumHydrogen and Helium• Melting point is near absolute zeroMelting point is near absolute zero

RocksRocks• Mainly silicates and metallic ironsMainly silicates and metallic irons• Melting points are above 700 degrees celciusMelting points are above 700 degrees celcius

IcesIces• Ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide and waterAmmonia, methane, carbon dioxide and water• They have intermediate melting pointsThey have intermediate melting points

AtmosphereAtmosphere

Why don’t the gases escape?Why don’t the gases escape? GravityGravity

• Gases are held into our planets by gravityGases are held into our planets by gravity• In order for a gas to escape it has to travel at the In order for a gas to escape it has to travel at the

planets escape velocityplanets escape velocity Earth 11 km/sEarth 11 km/s Jupiter 60km/sJupiter 60km/s

The Inner PlanetsThe Inner Planets

MecuryMecury VenusVenus EarthEarth MarsMars MoonMoon

MercuryMercurySizeSize 1/3 of the Earth1/3 of the Earth

Orbital PeriodOrbital Period 87.9 Days87.9 Days

Length of DayLength of Day 59 Days59 Days

Avg. TempAvg. Temp 440440

# Moons# Moons 00

AtmosphereAtmosphere OO22, Na and H, Na and H22

ColorColor Dark greyDark grey

Unique FactsUnique Facts Largest Night Largest Night Day Temp. Day Temp. ChangeChange

MercuryMercury

Innermost PlanetInnermost Planet Second SmallestSecond Smallest Surface FeaturesSurface Features

Cratered highlandsCratered highlands Smooth terrainsSmooth terrains Has scarps which shows signs of previously Has scarps which shows signs of previously

being tectonically activebeing tectonically active

Mercury ContinuedMercury Continued

Surface TemperatureSurface Temperature Revolves around sun quicklyRevolves around sun quickly Rotates SlowlyRotates Slowly

• One Night Takes 3 monthsOne Night Takes 3 months Avg. Daily tempAvg. Daily temp

• 427 427 oo C C Avg. Nightly tempAvg. Nightly temp

• -173 -173 oo C C

VenusVenusSizeSize 1/1 1/1


Length of DayLength of Day 243 Days243 Days


# Moons# Moons 00

AtmosphereAtmosphere COCO2,2, O O22and Nand N22

ColorColor Dirty YellowDirty Yellow

Unique FactsUnique Facts Highest Albedo Highest Albedo and Hottest and Hottest PlanetPlanet

VenusVenus

Second PlanetSecond Planet Earth’s TwinEarth’s Twin Covered with thick cloudsCovered with thick clouds Surface FeaturesSurface Features

Varied Topography much like EarthVaried Topography much like Earth 80 % is covered by plains, created by lava80 % is covered by plains, created by lava Only 8% is the highlands (volcanoes)Only 8% is the highlands (volcanoes)

VenusVenus

Surface TemperatureSurface Temperature Surface Temperature is approx. 475oCSurface Temperature is approx. 475oC

AtmosphereAtmosphere 97% CO297% CO2 Small Amounts of Water VaporSmall Amounts of Water Vapor Small Amounts of NitrogenSmall Amounts of Nitrogen Atmospheric Pressure is 90x Greater than Atmospheric Pressure is 90x Greater than

Earth’sEarth’s

MarsMars

SizeSize ½½


Length of DayLength of Day 24.6 Hours24.6 Hours


# Moons# Moons 22

AtmosphereAtmosphere COCO2,2,

ColorColor ReddishReddish

Unique FactsUnique Facts Olympus Mons Olympus Mons

Water Ice Caps Water Ice Caps

MarsMars

The Red PlanetThe Red Planet Has Brilliant White Polar CapsHas Brilliant White Polar Caps AtmosphereAtmosphere

1% the Denisty of Earth’s Atmosphere1% the Denisty of Earth’s Atmosphere Primarly made up of CO2Primarly made up of CO2 Temperatures can Drop to -125oCTemperatures can Drop to -125oC Polar Caps are made of water ice covered by Polar Caps are made of water ice covered by

a thin layer of frozen CO2a thin layer of frozen CO2

MarsMars

Surface FeaturesSurface Features Olympus MonsOlympus Mons

• Volcano that is the size of Ohio and 23 km highVolcano that is the size of Ohio and 23 km high• 2.5 times taller than Mt. Everest2.5 times taller than Mt. Everest

Valles MarinerisValles Marineris• Largest CanyonLargest Canyon• 5000km Long and 8km Deep5000km Long and 8km Deep

• NO MARTIANSNO MARTIANS

JupiterJupiter

SizeSize 11x11x

Orbital PeriodOrbital Period 12 Years12 Years

Length of DayLength of Day 9.925 hrs9.925 hrs


# Moons# Moons 16+16+

AtmosphereAtmosphere HH2 2 and Heand He

ColorColor Red, OrangeRed, Orange

Unique FactsUnique Facts 70% all 70% all Planetary Planetary MassMass

JupiterJupiter

Jupiter: 5th planet from the SunJupiter: 5th planet from the Sun Largest planet in the SS, twice the combined Largest planet in the SS, twice the combined

mass of the eight other planets mass of the eight other planets Fastest rotating planet; causes it to slightly Fastest rotating planet; causes it to slightly

bulge at centerbulge at center Great Red Spot is the universe’s largest storm Great Red Spot is the universe’s largest storm

& also has enormous lightning storms& also has enormous lightning storms Io, a moon of Jupiter, is the most volcanically Io, a moon of Jupiter, is the most volcanically

active object in the SSactive object in the SS

SaturnSaturn

SizeSize 9.5 x 9.5 x




# Moons# Moons 1818

AtmosphereAtmosphere HH22, and He, and He

ColorColor Bluish YellowBluish Yellow

Unique FactsUnique Facts 7 Major Rings7 Major Rings

SaturnSaturn

Saturn: 6th planet from the Sun Saturn: 6th planet from the Sun Also known as the Ringed Planet; rings Also known as the Ringed Planet; rings

composed of varying rock & ice composed of varying rock & ice fragmentsfragments

2nd largest planet in our SS2nd largest planet in our SS Least dense planet; less dense than Least dense planet; less dense than

waterwater Rapid rotation causes bulge at equator & Rapid rotation causes bulge at equator &

flattened polesflattened poles

UranusUranus

SizeSize 4 x4 x


Length of DayLength of Day 17.24 Hrs17.24 Hrs


# Moons# Moons 20+20+

AtmosphereAtmosphere HH22, He CH, He CH44

ColorColor BlueBlue

Unique FactsUnique Facts Accidentally Accidentally DiscoveredDiscovered

UranusUranus

Uranus: 7th planet from the SunUranus: 7th planet from the Sun 3rd largest planet in our SS3rd largest planet in our SS Axis of rotation is tilted on its side; almost Axis of rotation is tilted on its side; almost

perpendicular to its orbital plane around perpendicular to its orbital plane around the Sun = the Rolling Planetthe Sun = the Rolling Planet

Also has ringsAlso has rings Poles spend 42 years in darknessPoles spend 42 years in darkness

NeptuneNeptune

SizeSize 4 x4 x




# Moons# Moons 88

AtmosphereAtmosphere HH22, He and CH, He and CH44

ColorColor BlueBlue

Unique FactsUnique Facts Existence was Existence was Predicted before Predicted before discoverydiscovery

NeptuneNeptune

Neptune: 8th planet from the SunNeptune: 8th planet from the Sun Sometimes is the 9th planet from the Sometimes is the 9th planet from the

Sun when it crosses Pluto’s orbitSun when it crosses Pluto’s orbit Similar to Uranus; has several moons & Similar to Uranus; has several moons &

ringsrings Existence was predicted before Existence was predicted before

discoverydiscovery Great Dark Spot is an Earth size storm Great Dark Spot is an Earth size storm

on Neptune that disappeared in 1994on Neptune that disappeared in 1994

PlutoPluto

SizeSize 1/51/5

Orbital PeriodOrbital Period 248 yrs248 yrs

Length of DayLength of Day 6.3 days6.3 days


# Moons# Moons 11

AtmosphereAtmosphere NN22 and CH and CH44

ColorColor UnknownUnknown

Unique FactsUnique Facts RetrogradeRetrograde

Highest Highest eccentricityeccentricity

PlutoPluto

Pluto: 9th Planet from the SunPluto: 9th Planet from the Sun Sometimes is the 8th planet from the Sun when it Sometimes is the 8th planet from the Sun when it

crosses Neptune’s orbitcrosses Neptune’s orbit Also known as Planet X because it was not discovered Also known as Planet X because it was not discovered

until 1930until 1930 Smallest planet in our SSSmallest planet in our SS Sometimes referred to as double planet because of it’s Sometimes referred to as double planet because of it’s

moon Charon, which exhibits synchronous rotation moon Charon, which exhibits synchronous rotation with Pluto with Pluto

Only outer planet to have solid, rocky surface, but is Only outer planet to have solid, rocky surface, but is not dense enough to be considered a terrestrial planetnot dense enough to be considered a terrestrial planet

Was the 8Was the 8thth planet between 78 - 98 planet between 78 - 98

the solar system. composed of the following sun sun planets planets moons moons asteroids asteroids...

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