Earth ScienceEarth Science

An overview of theAn overview of the

Solar SystemSolar System

The SunThe Sun

The sun is the The sun is the biggest, brightest, and biggest, brightest, and hottest object in the hottest object in the solar system.solar system.

The sun is an The sun is an ordinary star.ordinary star.

The sun is made of The sun is made of about 70% hydrogen about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium.and 28% helium.

MercuryMercury

Mercury is solid and is Mercury is solid and is covered with craters.covered with craters.

Mercury has almost no Mercury has almost no atmosphere.atmosphere.

Mercury is just a little Mercury is just a little bigger than the moon.bigger than the moon.

Mercury is heavy and Mercury is heavy and dense.dense.

We can see it from Earth We can see it from Earth often called the “morning often called the “morning star.”star.”

VenusVenus Venus is the sixth largest Venus is the sixth largest

planet. It’s about three-planet. It’s about three-fourths the size of earth.fourths the size of earth.

The surface is rocky and The surface is rocky and very hot. The atmosphere very hot. The atmosphere completely hides the completely hides the surface and traps the surface and traps the heat.heat.

Rotates in the opposite Rotates in the opposite direction of Earth.direction of Earth.

Very toxic.Very toxic. One day is equal to 243 One day is equal to 243

Earth days.Earth days.

EarthEarth

Earth is the fifth largest planet and the third from Earth is the fifth largest planet and the third from the sun.the sun.

Liquid covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface.Liquid covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. The Earth has one moon.The Earth has one moon.

MoonMoon

MarsMars Mars is the fourth planet from the Mars is the fourth planet from the

sun.sun. Mars has a thin atmosphere that Mars has a thin atmosphere that

contains mostly carbon dioxide.contains mostly carbon dioxide. Mars has two small moons.Mars has two small moons. Mars has seasons similar to ours.Mars has seasons similar to ours. The climate changes widely The climate changes widely

between seasons.between seasons. There are ice caps on both poles. There are ice caps on both poles. A year on Mars takes as long as A year on Mars takes as long as

two Earth years.two Earth years. A day on Mars lasts only thirty A day on Mars lasts only thirty

minutes longer than a day on minutes longer than a day on EarthEarth

Moons of MarsMoons of Mars

PhobosPhobos

DeimosDeimos

JupiterJupiter

Jupiter’s Red SpotJupiter’s Red Spot

The Great Red Spot, a The Great Red Spot, a huge storm of swirling huge storm of swirling gas that has lasted for gas that has lasted for hundreds of years.hundreds of years.

Jupiter does not have a Jupiter does not have a solid surface. The planet solid surface. The planet is a ball of liquid is a ball of liquid surrounded by gas.surrounded by gas.

It takes Jupiter almost 12 It takes Jupiter almost 12 years to complete its orbit years to complete its orbit around the Sun.around the Sun.

Moons of JupiterMoons of Jupiter

Jupiter has four large Galilean moons, Jupiter has four large Galilean moons, twelve smaller named moons and twenty-twelve smaller named moons and twenty-three more recently discovered but not three more recently discovered but not named moons.named moons.

We’ll take a look at the four large Galilean We’ll take a look at the four large Galilean moons which were first observed by moons which were first observed by Galileo in 1610.Galileo in 1610.

IoIo

Io is the fifth moon of Io is the fifth moon of Jupiter. It’s the third Jupiter. It’s the third largest of Jupiter’s largest of Jupiter’s moons.moons.

Io has hundreds of Io has hundreds of volcanic calderas. volcanic calderas. Some of the volcanoes Some of the volcanoes are active.are active.

EuropaEuropa Europa is the sixth of Europa is the sixth of

Jupiter’s moons and is Jupiter’s moons and is the fourth largest.the fourth largest.

It is slightly smaller than It is slightly smaller than the Earth’s moon.the Earth’s moon.

The surface strongly The surface strongly resembles images of sea resembles images of sea ice on Earth. There may ice on Earth. There may be a liquid water sea be a liquid water sea under the crust.under the crust.

Europa is one of the five Europa is one of the five known moons in the solar known moons in the solar system to have an system to have an atmosphere.atmosphere.

GanymedeGanymede

Ganymede is the Ganymede is the seventh and largest of seventh and largest of Jupiter’s known Jupiter’s known satellites.satellites.

Ganymede has Ganymede has extensive cratering extensive cratering and an icy crust.and an icy crust.

CallistoCallisto

Callisto is the eighth of Jupiter’s known satellites Callisto is the eighth of Jupiter’s known satellites and the second largest.and the second largest.

Callisto has the oldest, most cratered surface of Callisto has the oldest, most cratered surface of any body yet observed in the solar system.any body yet observed in the solar system.

SaturnSaturn

Saturn is the second largest planet and the sixth Saturn is the second largest planet and the sixth from the sun.from the sun.

Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than Saturn is made of materials that are lighter than water. If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would water. If you could fit Saturn in a lake, it would float!float!

Rings of SaturnRings of Saturn

Saturn’s rings are not Saturn’s rings are not solid; they are solid; they are composed of small composed of small countless particles.countless particles.

The rings are very The rings are very thin. Though they’re thin. Though they’re 250,000km or more in 250,000km or more in diameter, they’re less diameter, they’re less than one kilometer than one kilometer thick.thick.

UranusUranus

Uranus is the third Uranus is the third largest planet and the largest planet and the seventh from the sun.seventh from the sun.

Uranus is one of the Uranus is one of the giant gas planets.giant gas planets.

Uranus is blue-green Uranus is blue-green because of the because of the methane in its methane in its atmosphere.atmosphere.

NeptuneNeptune

Neptune is the fourth Neptune is the fourth largest planet and the largest planet and the eight from the sun.eight from the sun.

Because of the orbits, Because of the orbits, from 1979 to 1999, from 1979 to 1999, Neptune was the Neptune was the ninth planet.ninth planet.

Like Uranus, the Like Uranus, the methane gives methane gives Neptune its color.Neptune its color.

PlutoPluto

Pluto is the smallest Pluto is the smallest planet and usually the planet and usually the farthest from the sun.farthest from the sun.

Pluto is the only Pluto is the only planet that has not planet that has not been visited by a been visited by a spacecraft.spacecraft.

Categorized as a Categorized as a dwarf planet.dwarf planet.