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

Object

Position from the

sun SizePhysical Traits Rocky?

Interesting Facts

Mercury 1smallest planet yes

Inner Planets

Object

Position from the

sun SizePhysical Traits Rocky?

Interesting Facts

Mercury 1smallest planet yes

Inner Planets

Venus 2

almost identical to Earth

acid atmosphere with extreme high temp yes

hotter than Mercury, greenhouse effect

Object

Position from the

sun SizePhysical Traits Rocky?

Interesting Facts

Mercury 1smallest planet yes

Inner Planets

Venus 2

almost identical to Earth

acid atmosphere with extreme high temp yes

hotter than Mercury, greenhouse effect

Earth 3

only planet with liquid water yes Blue Marble

Earth- The Blue Marble

Object

Position from the

sun SizePhysical Traits Rocky?

Interesting Facts

Mercury 1smallest planet yes

Inner Planets

Venus 2

almost identical to Earth

acid atmosphere with extreme high temp yes

hotter than Mercury, greenhouse effect

Earth 3

only planet with liquid water yes Blue Marble

Mars 4

about half the size of Earth has icy poles yes Red Planet

Mars- The Red Planet

Asteroid Belt

Object

Position from the

sun Size Physical Traits Rocky? Interesting Facts

Mercury 1 smallest planet yes Inner Planets

Venus 2almost identical to Earth

acid atmosphere with extreme high temp yes

hotter than Mercury, greenhouse effect

Earth 3 only planet with liquid water yes Blue Marble

Mars 4about half the size of Earth has icy poles yes Red Planet

Asteroids

vary - dust to several miles across

iron, stone or stoney-irons yes

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!

Object

Position from the

sun Size Physical Traits Rocky? Interesting Facts

Jupiter 5

largest planet, 11 times the size of Earth Great Red Spot no

Outer Planets

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

Object

Position from the

sun Size Physical Traits Rocky? Interesting Facts

Jupiter 5

largest planet, 11 times the size of Earth Great Red Spot no

Outer Planets

Saturn 6 9.4 times Earth rings no would float on water

Object

Position from the

sun Size Physical Traits Rocky? Interesting Facts

Jupiter 5

largest planet, 11 times the size of Earth Great Red Spot no

Outer Planets

Saturn 6 9.4 times Earth rings no would float on water

Uranus 7 4 times Earth knocked on its side no knocked on its side

Uranus’s Tilted Axis

Object

Position from the

sun Size Physical Traits Rocky? Interesting Facts

Jupiter 5

largest planet, 11 times the size of Earth Great Red Spot no

Outer Planets

Saturn 6 9.4 times Earth rings no would float on water

Uranus 7 4 times Earth knocked on its side no knocked on its side

Neptune 8almost 4 times Earth no

rains diamonds, Great Dark Spot

Neptune

Object

Position from the

sun Size Physical Traits Rocky? Interesting Facts

Jupiter 5

largest planet, 11 times the size of Earth Great Red Spot no

Outer Planets

Saturn 6 9.4 times Earth rings no would float on water

Uranus 7 4 times Earth knocked on its side no knocked on its side

Neptune 8almost 4 times Earth no

rains diamonds, Great Dark Spot

Comets varyice, dust and rock combination

some are

“dirty snowballs”, tail always faces away from the sun

Object

Position from the

sun Size Physical Traits Rocky? Interesting Facts

Mercury 1 smallest planet yes Inner Planets

Venus 2almost identical to Earth

acid atmosphere with extreme high temp yes

hotter than Mercury, greenhouse effect

Earth 3 only planet with liquid water yes Blue Marble

Mars 4about half the size of Earth has icy poles yes Red Planet

Asteroids

vary - dust to several miles across

iron, stone or stoney-irons yes

Jupiter 5

largest planet, 11 times the size of Earth Great Red Spot no

Outer Planets

Saturn 6 9.4 times Earth rings no would float on water Uranus 7 4 times Earth knocked on its side no knocked on its side

Neptune 8almost 4 times Earth no

rains diamonds, Great Dark Spot

Comets varyice, 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!