Transcript Our Solar System

OUR
SOLAR
SYSTEM
In 2006, scientists decided that Pluto was different than the
other major planets. So, Pluto was changed to a minor or
“dwarf” planet. Now we have 8 planets, instead of 9.
THE MILKY WAY
Our solar system is the Milky Way. (And no, it is
NOT named after the candy bar.) The Milky
Way contains planets, moons, and other objects.
The planets are divided into Terrestrial (Inner)
and Jovian (Outer) planets.
Terrestrial
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jovian
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
TERRESTRIAL VS. JOVIAN
Terrestrial planets
Solid surfaces
Closer to the Sun
Smaller
Made of carbon dioxide
and nitrogen gases
• Less moons
• Have no rings
• Spin less
•
•
•
•
Jovian planets
Gaseous surfaces
Farther from the Sun
Larger
Made of hydrogen and
helium gases
• More moons
• Include many rings
• Spin more
•
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•
•
MERCURY
The planet Mercury is the closest of the planets to the Sun. One
day on Mercury is about 58-1/2 Earth days long. But while
Mercury's days are very long, its revolution around the Sun is
rather fast. Mercury can complete one orbit around the Sun in
only 88 Earth days. That's just about 3 months here on Earth.
VENUS
Venus is in many ways Earth's sister planet, because they are
almost identical in their physical characteristics. Like the Earth
Venus has an atmosphere. However, Venus ' atmosphere is far
thicker than the Earth’s. There are also numerous volcanoes and
many mountains that appear distorted. Venus rotates very slowly
so that one day on Venus lasts more than 100 earth days. It also
rotates in the opposite direction as almost all the other planets.
EARTH
Our planet, Earth, is the largest of all the terrestrial planets.
About 30% of the Earth's surface is covered with land, while about
70% is covered by water. Earth is the only planet that has life on it,
as far as we know. ;-) Earth also has only one moon, which has
been visited many times. 1n 1969, Neil Armstrong was the first
person to step foot on the moon, and his footprints are still present.
MARS
Mars is known as the “red planet”, because it’s surface is red.
The planet has higher mountains and deeper canyons than any
other planet. Mars is fascinating to scientists because its mild
temperature is more like the Earth's than any of the other planets.
ASTEROID BELT
There is an asteroid belt that falls between Mars and Jupiter,
separating the Terrestrial and Jovian planets.
JUPITER
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and has over 60
moons. Jupiter is a very stormy planet, which are found throughout
the atmosphere. Jupiter's great red spot, visible in the picture below,
is where a giant storm has been raging for over 300 years. The red
spot is called “The Eye of Jupiter“, because of its shape. The
storm's winds blow across an area larger than the Earth.
SATURN
Saturn is most famous for its beautiful rings. It is also very similar
to Jupiter, but is much smaller. It is the second largest planet in our
Solar System and is a gas giant like Jupiter. Saturn is the least
dense planet in our Solar System, and is made up of mostly
hydrogen and helium. Because Saturn is so light, it does not have
as much gravity. Saturn also has over 60 moons.
URANUS
Uranus is a gas giant. But Uranus is a little different. Unlike all
the other planets and most of the moons in our galaxy, Uranus
spins on its side. It is believed that something large crashed into
Uranus long ago that changed it’s rotation. It is an extremely
cold planet, because of it’s distance from the Sun. It has also
been called the "ice giant." It is almost identical to Neptune.
NEPTUNE
Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun, so it’s atmosphere is
very cold. It is also the smallest of the jovian planets. In 1989,
Voyager 2 travelled to Neptune. They noticed a giant storm similar
to the one on Jupiter, and it has since been called the "Great Dark
Spot". They photographed Neptune, which is a beautiful blue
color. Neptune also has the strongest winds, reaching 1,200 mph.
PLUTO
Pluto was once the 9th planet in the Milky Way, but it
is no longer in the major line-up. Actually, Pluto’s
characteristics are very similar to the Terrestrial
planets, rather than the Jovian planets to which it is
closest to. So, Pluto is now a dwarf planet.