Planets of the Solar System

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Slide 1

The Planets of the Solar System

A Trip Through the Solar System

Slide 2

Mercury - named after the speedy messenger of the Roman gods

Closest planet to the sun

Revolution around the sun = 88 Earth days

Rotation on its axis = 59 Earth days

Crater-covered surface with steep cliffs

Almost no atmosphere

Temperature range

as high as 427 degrees C

as low as -170 degrees C

Slide 3

Mercury - named after the speedy messenger of the Roman gods

Slide 4

Venus - named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love

Second planet from the sun

About the same size as Earth

Thick, cloudy atmosphere

sulfuric acid

carbon dioxide

Temperature range

as high as 480 degrees C

Slide 5

Venus - named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love

Surface pressure = 91 times more than Earth’s

Surface has…

deep canyons and tall mountains

craters

vast plains

Revolution around the sun = 224 Earth days

Rotation on its axis = 243 Earth days

Slide 6

Venus - named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love

Greenhouse effect

heat becomes trapped beneath the clouds

results in little or no water on Venus’ surface

Slide 7

Venus - named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love

Slide 8

Earth

Third planet from the sun

Revolution around the sun = 365 days

Rotation on its axis = 24 hours

Because the axis of the Earth is tilted, this creates distinct “seasons” throughout the year

Slide 9

Earth

Temperature range depends on the location, altitude and season

Gravitation pull of the moon creates tide changes (rise and fall of the ocean levels)

Surface -

Mountains

Plains

Deserts

Heavy vegetation

Slide 10

Earth

Slide 11

Mars - named after the Roman god of war

Fourth planet from the sun

Surface

rocky

large craters

soils is similar to Earth’s soil in many ways