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Objective – Using references, I can identify properties and characteristics of planets.
Solar System Fact Sheet
Sun
Mars
Center of Solar System
Star
Has dark spots on surface called Sunspots
Surface temperature around 10,000o F.
Mercury
Has no moon
Year 88 earth days long
Has so many craters it looks like Moon
Closest planet to the Sun
Revolves at 30 miles per second
Largest feature Caloris Basin
Very thin atmosphere
Temperature range from 800º F. to
–300º F.
Smallest planet in the Solar System
Rocky Planet
Venus
Temperature range from 850o – 900o F.
Hottest planet in the Solar System
Has no moon
Entire surface covered in clouds
Brightest object in the nighttime sky after
the moon
When seen at night called the evening
star
When seen in the morning called the
morning star
Closest planet to Earth
Planet rotates backwards
2nd planet from the Sun
Rocky Planet
Called the Red Planet
Looks like a red star from Earth
Has two moon phobos Deimos
Has largest volcano in the Solar System –
Olympus Mons.
Candy bar named after this planet.
Temperatures ranging from –67º to 80ºF.
Subject of many science fiction movies
Fourth planet from the Sun
Rocky Planet
4th planet from Sun
Jupiter
Great red spot most noticeable feature
High winds in clouds
Has over 60 moon
Largest Planet
Gas Giant
Four largest moons – Io, Callisto, Europa,
Ganymede
Temperature about –234º F.
5th Planet from Sun
Saturn
Float in water.
Brightest rings in the Solar System
2nd largest planet in Solar System
2nd largest moon in Solar System titan
Temperature about –288º F.
Gas Giant
6th planet from Sun
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Objective – Using references, I can identify properties and characteristics of planets.
Uranus
Was hit by a large object and knocked on
its side
7th planet from the Sun
Has faint rings
Dark blue in color
Temperature –357º F.
First planet discovered using telescope
First named after King George III
Neptune
Named for Roman god of sea
Farthest planet from the Sun
Atmosphere has many storms
Fastest winds in the Solar System
750 – 1,240 mph
Dark blue in color
Has faint rings
Temperature of –385º F.
2.8 billion miles from Sun
Discovered using math
Pluto
Largest dwarf planet
Named after Roman god of the
underworld
Has five moons – Charon, Nix, Kerberos,
Hydra Styx
Temperature –380° F.
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