Terrestrial Planets in Our Solar System

Planets of the Solar System

Terrestrial Planets

• Mercury:
  • Smallest planet in our solar system
  • Closest to the sun
  • Rocky composition
  • No atmosphere
• Mars:
  • Known as the Red Planet
  • Rocky composition
  • Has polar ice caps
  • Potential for life
• Earth:
  • Only known planet to support life
  • Rocky composition
  • 71% water
  • Atmosphere consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen
• Venus:
  • Hottest planet in the solar system
  • Rocky composition
  • Thick atmosphere traps heat
  • Volcanic surface

Gas Giants

• Jupiter:
  • Largest planet in our solar system
  • Gas composition (mostly hydrogen and helium)
  • Stormy atmosphere (Great Red Spot)
  • Many moons ( Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto)
• Saturn:
  • Second-largest planet in our solar system
  • Gas composition (mostly hydrogen and helium)
  • Ring system
  • Many moons (Titan, Enceladus)
• Uranus:
  • Tilted axis (rotates on its side)
  • Gas composition (mostly hydrogen, helium, and methane)
  • Cold atmosphere
  • Few moons
• Neptune:
  • Coldest planet in the solar system
  • Gas composition (mostly hydrogen, helium, and methane)
  • Strong winds
  • Few moons

Ice Giants

• Uranus:
  • See above
• Neptune:
  • See above

Dwarf Planets

• Pluto:
  • Formerly considered the ninth planet
  • Rocky and icy composition
  • Small size
  • Kuiper Belt object
• Eris:
  • Located in the Kuiper Belt
  • Rocky and icy composition
  • Similar size to Pluto
  • Highly eccentric orbit
• Haumea:
  • Located in the Kuiper Belt
  • Rocky and icy composition
  • Irregular shape
  • Highly eccentric orbit

Terrestrial Planets

• Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system.
• Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.
• Mercury has a rocky composition and no atmosphere.
• Mars is known as the Red Planet due to its rocky composition.
• Mars has polar ice caps and shows potential for life.
• Earth is the only known planet to support life.
• Earth's composition is rocky, with 71% of its surface being water.
• Earth's atmosphere consists of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.

Gas Giants

• Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.
• Jupiter has a gas composition, primarily consisting of hydrogen and helium.
• Jupiter's atmosphere is stormy, featuring the Great Red Spot.
• Jupiter has many moons, including Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
• Saturn is the second-largest planet in our solar system.
• Saturn has a gas composition, primarily consisting of hydrogen and helium.
• Saturn features a prominent ring system.
• Saturn has many moons, including Titan and Enceladus.
• Uranus has a tilted axis, rotating on its side.
• Uranus has a gas composition, primarily consisting of hydrogen, helium, and methane.
• Uranus has a cold atmosphere and few moons.
• Neptune is the coldest planet in our solar system.
• Neptune has a gas composition, primarily consisting of hydrogen, helium, and methane.
• Neptune's atmosphere is subject to strong winds, and it has few moons.

Ice Giants

• Uranus is an Ice Giant, characterized by its tilted axis and cold atmosphere.
• Neptune is an Ice Giant, characterized by its cold atmosphere and strong winds.

Dwarf Planets

• Pluto is a dwarf planet, formerly considered the ninth planet in our solar system.
• Pluto has a rocky and icy composition and is small in size.
• Pluto is a Kuiper Belt object.
• Eris is a dwarf planet, located in the Kuiper Belt.
• Eris has a rocky and icy composition, similar in size to Pluto.
• Eris has a highly eccentric orbit.
• Haumea is a dwarf planet, located in the Kuiper Belt.
• Haumea has a rocky and icy composition, and an irregular shape.
• Haumea has a highly eccentric orbit.

Learn about the unique characteristics of Mercury, Mars, Earth, and Venus, including their composition, atmosphere, and potential for life.