Download 02-Voyage to the Planets

Voyage to the Planets
Order of Planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune
My Very Eager Money Jumped Some Ugly New
Plants
Origins of the Planets
Our solar system was part of a nebula that consisted
mainly of hydrogen and helium
Nebula - cloud in outer space, comprised of gas and
dust
Nebula
Origins of the Planets
Solid matter formed from neighboring supernova
explosions from nearby stars
Supernova - Huge explosion that occurs after a
massive star’s life. Solid matter makes up
approximately 1% of the nebula. (rock, ice, iron)
Supernova
Creation of Jovian Planets
The matter joined into clumps and contracted in the
outer regions of the nebula. They are often referred
to as “Gas Giants.”
The force of gravity caused these clumps to form the
Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune)
Creation of Terrestrial Planets
The gases were too hot to condense due to the close
location to the sun and blown away from the sun’s
solar wind, leaving only the solid chunks behind.
As they continued to circulate around the sun, they
joined together forming larger chunks. This caused a
strong gravity around them and pulled all the matter
in space around them, forming the Terrestrial Planets
(Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars)
What about Pluto?
Pluto is neither considered Jovian nor Terrestrial. Its
size is too small to be labeled as Jovian Planet and
too far from the sun to be considered Terrestrial.
Terrestrial
vs. Jovian
Terrestrial
• Small in diameter
• Close to the sun
• Few moons
• Thin atmosphere
• High density interior
• Rotate slowly
Jovian
• Large in diameter
• Far from the sun
• Many moons
• Thick atmosphere
• Low density interior
• Rotate rapidly