Download Inner Planets


Terrestrial Planet – the four small, dense,
rocky planets that orbit closest to the sun

Astronomical Unit – equals the average
distance between the sun and Earth
Sun – Mercury – Venus – Earth - Mars
Slow rotation
 Close to the sun
 No atmosphere

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps
energy
 Volcanoes

Water
 Oxygen
 Energy source

Covered lava flow in the northern
hemisphere
 Heavily cratered in the southern
hemisphere

The largest terrestrial planet is Earth.
 Venus has clouds that rain sulfuric acid
on the planet.
 Huge dust storms sweep across the
surface of Mars.
 Earth is the most geologically active of
the terrestrial planets.
 Mercury has the thinnest atmosphere of
the terrestrial planets.


Rotation is one turn on its axis

Revolution is one rotation around the sun