• Mercury
  • Venus
  • Earth
  • Mars
  • Jupiter
  • Saturn
  • Uranus
  • Neptune
...
MERCURY

How Mercury Got Its Name

  • Named after the Roman god of messengers, Mercury, due to its swift movement.

  • Being the closest planet to the Sun also contributes to its name.

  • Ancient Egyptians called the planet "Sah".

  • Babylonians called the planet "Nabu".

    • Mercury's Place in the Solar System

  • The closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 58 million kilometers from the Sun.

  • Smallest planet in the Solar System.

  • Has a highly elliptical orbit, meaning its distance from the Sun varies.
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    MERCURY

    Mercury's Climate

  • Experiences the most extreme temperatures in the Solar System.

  • Daytime temperatures can reach 430°C, while nighttime temperatures can drop to -180°C.

  • This is because its thin atmosphere cannot trap heat.

  • Atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide and helium instead of oxygen.

    • Mercury's Movements, Rotation, and Tilt

  • Completes its orbit around the Sun in 88 Earth days.

  • Rotates on its axis in 59 Earth days.

  • Axial tilt is very small compared to Earth's, only 1.5°.

  • Therefore, seasons are not as pronounced as on Earth.
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    MERCURY

    Similarities Between Mercury and Earth

  • Rocky planet.

  • Has an iron core.

  • Cratered surface.

  • Possesses a magnetic field.

    • What If Mercury Didn't Exist?

  • Venus would be the closest planet to the Sun and likely even hotter and drier.

  • The amount of solar wind reaching Earth could increase, potentially raising radiation levels and disrupting satellite systems.

  • There could be changes in the overall balance of the Solar System.

  • Orbits of comets passing behind Mercury could be affected due to the small gravitational pull exerted by Mercury.
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    VENUS

    How Venus Got Its Name

  • Named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus, due to its brightness and beauty.

  • Also known as the "morning star" or "evening star" because of its brilliance.

  • Ancient Egyptians called the planet "Ishtar".

  • Babylonians called the planet "Ninhar".

    • Venus's Place in the Solar System

  • The second closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 108 million kilometers from the Sun.

  • Slightly smaller than Earth.

  • Has a circular orbit, meaning its distance from the Sun varies less compared to Earth.
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    VENUS

    Venus's Climate

  • The hottest planet in the Solar System

  • Surface temperatures can reach 462°C.

  • Atmosphere is very thick and composed of carbon dioxide.

  • This dense atmosphere traps heat, creating a greenhouse effect and making the planet extremely hot.

    • Venus's Movements, Rotation, and Tilt

  • Completes its orbit around the Sun in 225 Earth days.

  • Rotates on its axis in 243 Earth days, meaning it takes longer to rotate than to orbit the Sun.

  • Axial tilt is 177 degrees, meaning the planet rotates in the opposite direction and its axis is almost horizontal.

  • Therefore, seasons on Venus are very different from those on Earth.
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    VENUS

    Similarities Between Venus and Earth

  • Rocky planet.

  • Similar in size.

  • Has a thick atmosphere.

  • Possesses a magnetic field.

    • What If Venus Didn't Exist?

  • Orbits of the planets in the Solar System could be affected.

  • The amount of solar wind reaching Earth could increase, potentially raising radiation levels and disrupting satellite systems.

  • There could be changes in the overall balance of the Solar System.

  • The thick atmosphere produced by Venus could affect Earth's climate.
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    EARTH

    Earth's Important Features

  • Water covers about 71% of Earth's surface.

  • Atmosphere contains oxygen and other gases necessary for life.

  • Earth's magnetic field protects us from harmful solar radiation.

  • Supports a wide variety of plant and animal life.

    • Earth's Moon

  • Has one natural satellite: the Moon.

  • The Moon orbits the Sun along with Earth, held in place by Earth's gravity.

  • The Moon has an effect on Earth's tides.

  • The Moon provides valuable information about Earth's past and formation.
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    EARTH

    How Earth Formed

  • Thought to have formed from a cloud of dust and gas about 4.5 billion years ago, when the Solar System was forming.

  • As the cloud collapsed and spun, it began to form Earth.

  • A molten core of rock and metal sank to the center of the planet.

  • Lighter materials formed Earth's crust and mantle.

  • Over time, the Earth's surface cooled and solidified, forming continents and oceans.

    • Earth's Place in the Solar System

  • The third closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 150 million kilometers from the Sun.

  • The only planet known to support life.

  • Located in the Solar System's "habitable zone," where liquid water can exist.
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    EARTH

    Earth's Climate

  • Average temperature is 15°C (59°F).

  • Climate is determined by the interaction of sunlight, the atmosphere, and the oceans.

  • Earth has different climate types: equatorial, temperate, polar, and desert.

  • Climate change is long-term changes in Earth's climate caused by human activities.

    • Earth's Movements

  • Rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. This rotation causes day and night.

  • Revolves around the Sun once every year. This revolution causes the seasons.

  • Axis tilt is 23.5 degrees. This tilt causes the seasons to occur at different times in different parts of the world.
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    MARS

    How Mars Got Its Name

  • Named after the Roman god of war, Mars, due to its red color.

  • Also known as the "Red Planet".

    • Mars's Place in the Solar System

  • The fourth closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 228 million kilometers from the Sun.

  • Smaller than Earth.

  • Has a highly elliptical orbit, meaning its distance from the Sun varies.
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    MARS

    Mars's Climate

  • Has the most Earth-like climate in the Solar System.

  • Average temperature is -63°C.

  • Has a thin atmosphere, so it cannot retain heat as well as Earth.

  • Has four seasons, but they are longer than Earth's.

    • Mars's Movements, Rotation, and Tilt

  • Completes its orbit around the Sun in 687 Earth days.

  • Rotates on its axis in 24.6 Earth hours, which is very similar to Earth's rotation period.

  • Axial tilt is 25.19 degrees, which is also quite close to Earth's axial tilt.

  • Therefore, Mars experiences seasons similar to those on Earth.
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    MARS

    Similarities Between Mars and Earth

  • Rocky planet.

  • Has polar ice caps.

  • Shows evidence of volcanic activity.

  • May have once held liquid water.

    • What If Mars Didn't Exist?

  • There could be changes in the overall balance of the Solar System.

  • The orbits of asteroids reaching Earth could be affected.

  • The thin atmosphere produced by Mars could affect Earth's climate.

  • The development of life in the Solar System could have been more difficult, as Mars is a rare planet with similar geological and chemical properties to Earth.
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    JUPITER

    How Jupiter Got Its Name

  • Named after the Roman god of gods and the sky, Jupiter, due to its size and prominence in the night sky.

  • Also known as the "giant planet" because it is the largest planet in the Solar System.

    • Jupiter's Place in the Solar System

  • The fifth closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 778 million kilometers from the Sun.

  • The largest planet in the Solar System, accounting for more than 70% of its mass.

  • Has a very circular orbit, meaning its distance from the Sun varies less compared to Earth.
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    JUPITER

    Jupiter's Climate

  • Has some of the most extreme climates in the Solar System.

  • tmospheric pressure is many times greater than Earth's.

  • Atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane.

  • Great storms and lightning are common. The most famous is the Great Red Spot, which has been raging for centuries.

    • Jupiter's Movements, Rotation, and Tilt

  • Completes its orbit around the Sun in 11.8 Earth years.

  • Rotates on its axis in 9.9 Earth hours, which is one of the fastest rotations in the Solar System.

  • Axial tilt is 3.1°, which is very small compared to Earth's axial tilt.

  • Therefore, Jupiter experiences much less seasonal variation than Earth.
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    JUPITER

    Between Jupiter and Earth?

  • One of the gas giants in the Solar System.

  • Has a strong magnetic field.

  • Has multiple moons.

  • Has rings.

    • What If Jupiter Didn't Exist?

  • There could be changes in the overall balance of the Solar System.

  • The orbits of asteroids and comets could be affected.

  • Without the protection provided by Jupiter's magnetic field, more solar radiation could reach Earth.

  • The orbits of the planets in the Solar System could change, as Jupiter's gravity affects the movement of other planets.

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    • ...
    SATURN

    How Saturn Got Its Name

  • Named after the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn, due to its slow movement across the sky.

  • Also known as the "ringed planet" because of its prominent rings.

  • Ancient Egyptians called the planet "Shu".

  • Babylonians called the planet "Ninib".

    • Saturn's Place in the Solar System

  • The sixth closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 1.434 billion kilometers from the Sun.

  • The second largest planet in the Solar System.

  • Has a very circular orbit, meaning its distance from the Sun varies less compared to Earth.
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    SATURN

    Saturn's Climate

  • One of the coldest planets in the Solar System.

  • Average temperature is -178°C.

  • Atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane.

  • Great storms and lightning are common.

    • Saturn's Movements, Rotation, and Tilt

  • Completes its orbit around the Sun in 29.5 Earth years.

  • Rotates on its axis in 10.7 Earth hours.

  • Axial tilt is 26.7°, which is quite close to Earth's axial tilt.

  • Therefore, Saturn experiences seasons similar to those on Earth.
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    SATURN

    Between Saturn and Earth?

  • One of the gas giants in the Solar System.

  • Has a strong magnetic field.

  • Has multiple moons.

  • Has rings.

    • What If Saturn Didn't Exist?

  • There could be changes in the overall balance of the Solar System.

  • The orbits of asteroids and comets could be affected.

  • Many ice and rock particles captured by Saturn's rings could be distributed differently in the Solar System.

  • The orbits of the planets in the Solar System could change, as Saturn's gravity affects the movement of other planets.
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    URANUS

    How Uranus Got Its Name

  • Named after the Greek god of the sky, Uranus, due to its sky-like blue color.

  • Also known as the "ice giant" because of its extremely cold atmosphere.

  • Ancient Egyptians called the planet "Shu".

  • Babylonians called the planet "Nibiru".

    • Uranus's Place in the Solar System

  • The seventh closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 2.871 billion kilometers from the Sun.

  • The fourth largest planet in the Solar System.

  • Has a very circular orbit, meaning its distance from the Sun varies less compared to Earth.
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    URANUS

    Uranus's Climate

  • One of the coldest planets in the Solar System.

  • Average temperature is -224°C.

  • Atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane.

  • Great storms and lightning are common.

    • Uranus's Movements, Rotation, and Tilt

  • Completes its orbit around the Sun in 84 Earth years.

  • Rotates on its axis in 17.2 Earth hours, which is one of the longest rotations in the Solar System.

  • Axial tilt is 97.77°, which is very different from the other planets in the Solar System.

  • Therefore, Uranus experiences very different seasons from Earth. The polar regions receive sunlight for 42 years at a time, while other regions remain in darkness.
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    URANUS

    Between Uranus and Earth?

  • One of the gas giants in the Solar System.

  • Has a strong magnetic field.

  • Has multiple moons.

  • Has rings.

    • What If Uranus Didn't Exist?

  • There could be changes in the overall balance of the Solar System.

  • The orbits of asteroids and comets could be affected.

  • Many ice and rock particles captured by Uranus's rings could be distributed differently in the Solar System.

  • The orbits of the planets in the Solar System could change, as Uranus's gravity affects the movement of other planets.
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    NEPTUNE

    How Neptune Got Its Name

  • Named after the Roman god of the sea, Neptune, due to its blue color and association with water.

  • Also known as the "ice giant" because of its extremely cold atmosphere.

    • Neptune's Place in the Solar System

  • The eighth closest planet to the Sun.

  • Averages 4.504 billion kilometers from the Sun

  • The farthest planet from the Sun.
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    NEPTUNE

    Neptune's Climate

  • Neptune is a cold planet

  • Average temperature is -218°C.

  • Atmosphere is composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane.

    • Neptune's Movements, Rotation, and Tilt

  • Completes its orbit around the Sun in 164 Earth years.

  • Rotates on its axis in 16.1 Earth hours.

  • Axial tilt is 28.3°, which is different from the other planets in the Solar System.

  • Therefore, Neptune experiences seasons different from Earth's.
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    NEPTUNE

    Between Neptune and Earth?

  • One of the gas giants in the Solar System.

  • Has a strong magnetic field.

  • Has multiple moons.

  • Has rings.

    • What If Neptune Didn't Exist?

  • There could be changes in the overall balance of the Solar System.

  • The orbits of objects in the Kuiper Belt could be affected.

  • Many ice and rock particles captured by Neptune's rings could be distributed differently in the Solar System.

  • The orbits of the planets in the Solar System could change, as Neptune's gravity affects the movement of other planets.