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Solar System Guided Notes
The Inner Planets
Section 27.1
There are four inner planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. What three characteristics do each
of them have in common?
•
_________________________
•
_________________________
•
_________________________
Because the inner planets all have Earth-like characteristics they are sometimes called what?
_______________________________
Describe the following aspects for each of the following planets below, plus one fact of your own.
Mercury
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
other fact
It has a surface covered in __________
Magnetic field is about one percent as strong as __________.
A year on Mercury lasts for only _____ Earth days.
Temperature can reach up to 400°c on its __________ side and nearly -200°c
on its __________ side.

Mercury is the closest planet to the __________.
Venus
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
other fact
Landscape dominated by __________ features, faulting, and __________.
Weak or nonexistent magnetic field.
A year on Venus is _____ Earth days long.
Temperatures can reach up to 475°c because the _______ heat cannot escape
through the thick atmosphere, which acts like a _______________ covering
the entire planet.

A day on Venus is _____ Earth days long
Solar System Guided Notes
Earth
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
_______________, earthquakes, __________, and weather still form and
reform Earths __________.
Earth has a __________ magnetic field.
__________ days for it to complete one revolution around the Sun.
Earth’s temperature can range from about 55°c (130 °F) to -90°c (-130°F).
other fact

Earth is the only planet in the Solar System known to ________________.

Earth is the only planet to contain __________ in all three forms.
Mars
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
The planet has a _______ surface and a _____ sky. It is covered in rocks and
_____________, and the solar system's biggest __________, Olympus Mons.
Weak or nonexistent magnetic field
A year on Mars is _____ Earth days.
Temperatures range from _____°c to _____°c.
other fact

A day on Mars is 24 hours and 37 minutes

It once had __________________.

A small _____ planet with a very thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide.
Asteroid Belt is between __________ and __________.
Asteroid Belt
Solar System Guided Notes
The Outer Planets
Section 27.2
There are four outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; and a minor planet Pluto. What is
another name for the four outer planets? _______________
What five characteristics do each of the four outer planets have in common?
1. They are much __________.
2. Do not have ____________________.
3. Are composed mainly of the _________________ hydrogen and helium (gaseous planets).
4. All have a _______________ structure.
5. All have __________ systems.
Describe the following aspects for each of the following planets below, plus one fact of your own.
Jupiter
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
other fact
____________________ surface
Colored _______ and _______
_____________________ magnetic field
_______ Earth years for one complete orbit.
Temperature ____________ with depth.
• _____________ planet in the solar system with over twice the mass of
______________________ combined.
• ________________________: a giant storm about twice the size of
Earth.
Saturn
Surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
other fact

No solid surface

Colored zones and belts
__________________ than Jupiter, but much stronger than ___________
_____ Earth years for one complete orbit.
Temperature _____________ with depth.

Most visible ___________________ in the solar system

Very low density; could ____________________.
Solar System Guided Notes
Uranus
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
other fact
No solid surface
Magnetic field is not aligned with its poles, but is off by about 60 degrees;
almost as though it was upright.
_____ Earth years for one orbit.
Average surface temperature is _______°c and increases with depth.
It is tipped almost completely over on its side.
Neptune
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
other fact
No solid surface
Magnetic field is tipped 47 degrees in relation to its axis of rotation.
_____ Earth years for one orbit.
Average surface temperature is _______°c and increases with depth.
_______ have been clocked up to _______ kilometers an hour.
Pluto
surface
magnetic field
orbit
temperature
other fact
__________ surface is covered with methane ice.
Debate whether or not a magnetic field exists on Pluto.
_____ Earth years for one orbit.
Temperatures range between -210°c to -235°c.
Reclassified as a _______________ or _______________.
Pluto is smaller than _______________.
Solar System Guided Notes