Download Inner Planets

Write the information for the inner planets on
the front side, one planet in each box. Do the
same for the outer planets on the back side.
Illustrate each planet. Your drawings should
show the relative sizes of the planets, and
should be colored realistically. Refer to your
textbook or another source to see what colors
to use.
Inner Planets
Mercury
 smallest planet
 closest to Sun
 little atmosphere, temperature extremes
 heavily cratered surface
Venus
 second closest to Sun
 thick atmosphere traps solar energy =
greenhouse effect
 hottest planet – about 470 C
 Earth’s “sister planet” – similar size
 slowest rotation
Earth
 3rd planet from Sun
 protective atmosphere allows life to
flourish
 water exists as solid, liquid, & gas
Mars




farthest inner planet
red surface
has seasons and polar ice caps
might have had water shape the surface in
the past
The asteroid belt separates the inner and outer
planets.
Outer Planets (Gas Giants)
Jupiter
 largest planet
 63 moons
 “Great Red Spot” – giant storm on surface
 fastest rotation
 has rings
Saturn
 several broad rings, made of ice and dust
 61 moons
Uranus
 axis makes the planet spin almost sideways
 has rings
 27 moons
 blue, because of methane
Neptune
 farthest planet
 coldest planet
 has rings
 13 moons
 blue, because of methane and helium