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Solar System Booklet Informa1on Mrs. Smith’s Class Dripping Springs Middle School Planetary Distances • 
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Mercury 0.4 AU Venus 0.7 AU Earth 1.0 AU Mars 1.5 AU Jupiter 5.0 AU Saturn 10.0 AU Uranus 19.0 AU Neptune 30.0 AU Pluto 39.0 AU •  Light travels through space at 300,000-­‐km/s. •  So it takes about 8 minutes for light from the sun to travel 1 AU and reach us. •  How long would it take light from the sun to reach Pluto? •  39 x 8 = 312 minutes, or 5.2 hours! Sun’s Composi1on •  The Sun is mainly composed of hydrogen and helium. •  90 % hydrogen •  9 % helium •  Small amounts of the elements up through iron. •  This changes over 1me as the sun converts hydrogen to helium by fusion. Mercury •  Roman name for the Greek messenger god. He wore winged sandals so he could fly. Since Mercury the planet is the fastest of all the planets this is appropriate. Mercury Data •  Closest to the sun. •  Temperature ranges from 427°C in daylight to -­‐173°C at night. •  Revolves slowly, in two Mercury years three Mercury days will have passed. •  Essen1ally no atmosphere. •  Surface similar to the moon, with craters and smooth plains. •  One third the size of the Earth. Mercury Diameter: one third the size of Earth Distance: 0.4 AU Atmosphere: no atmosphere Features: Craters with smooth plains and most extreme temperature range •  Life:no life because of atmosphere • 
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Venus •  Named for the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Originally the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Venus Temperature •  Almost same size as the Earth. •  Hodest surface in our solar system. The average day1me surface temperature is 464°C, compared to the Earth’s 15°C. •  This is hot enough to melt lead. Venus •  Diameter: 0.9 Earth •  Distance: 0.7 AU •  Atmosphere: 96% carbon dioxide at 0.01 atmospheres. •  Features: hodest surface in solar system. Retrograde rota1on. •  Life: Very doubful, the pressure and temperatures are too high. Sulfuric acid in atmosphere does not help either. Earth Diameter: 1 earth Distance: 1 AU Atmosphere: 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen Features: water world, moderate temperature and pressures •  Life: teeming with life. Planet is “just right” for life as we know it. • 
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Mars •  Mars is the La1n name for Ares, the Greek god of war. Mar’s Atmosphere •  Mars has an atmosphere that is mainly carbon dioxide. •  It is very thin, only 0.01 atmosphere’s at the surface. •  Mars even has clouds, but they are thin also. •  The winds can create dust storms that cover much of the planet and last for months. Asteroids •  Asteroids are rocky or metallic objects, most of which orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. A few asteroids approach the Sun more closely. None of the asteroids have atmospheres. •  Asteroids are also known as planetoids or minor planets. Gas Giants Cores •  Gas giants are believed to have solid cores made of rock, ice, frozen carbon dioxide, and other compounds. •  Cores would be several 1mes the size of the Earth. Jupiter, King of the Roman Gods •  Named for Jove, the King of the Roman Gods. •  Roman name for the Greek god Zeus. •  Olen the term Jovian is used to describe things pertaining to Jupiter. Example: the Jovian moons. Jupiter •  Believed to be a failed star, lacking the mass to become a small star. •  Most massive planet in solar system. •  Has over 60 satellites. •  Density is 1.33g/cm3. •  Rotates every 10 hours. •  Takes 12 years to orbit the sun. •  Gravity almost 2.5 1mes that of the Earth. Jupiter •  Diameter: 11 Earth's •  Distance: 5 Au •  Atmosphere: mainly hydrogen with some helium •  Features: ac1ve weather with storms that last for 100’s of years •  Life: none Jupiter Atmosphere •  Mainly hydrogen with some helium. •  Very ac1ve weather systems. •  Forms colorful bands and swirls. •  Has hurricanes that last for 100’s of years. Great Red Spot •  The red spot is a huge storm that has been con1nuously going on Jupiter for over 400 years. Winds inside this storm reach speeds of about 270 mph. With a diameter of 15,400 miles, this storm is almost twice the size of the en1re Earth. Saturn the God •  Saturn was the Roman God of the Harvest and of Time. •  Father of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. •  The Roman name for the Greek god Cronos. •  Saturnalia was the mid-­‐
winter fes1val in Saturn’s honor. It lasted seven days, and there was much merrymaking. Public business was suspended and schools were closed. Parents gave presents to their children. Saturn Facts •  2nd largest planet in solar system. •  A “day” on Saturn is a lidle over 10 hours long! •  It takes 29 years to orbit the sun. •  Almost 10 1mes larger than Earth. •  Most visible rings of any planet. •  Density is 0.69 g /cm3. •  If a large enough ocean could be found, Saturn would float in it! Saturn Atmosphere •  Similar to Jupiter’s, mostly hydrogen with some helium. •  Storms not as large or as long lived as Jupiter's. •  Clouds are thicker, blocking views to lower layers. Explains the lack of banding compared to Jupiter. Saturn’s Rings •  Very spectacular. Not at all solid. •  Made of 1ny bits of ice, dust, and rock. A few are up to a kilometer across. •  Only about a kilometer thick. •  The Cassini space probe actually passed through the outer ring as it slowed down to enter orbit. Saturn’s Moons •  Has over 40 moons, 15 or so that are large enough to be called major moons. Saturn Diameter: 9 1mes larger than Earth Distance: 10 Au Atmosphere: 96% Hydrogen 4% Helium Features: Has short storms, rings orbit it that are made up of bits of ice, dust, and rock •  Life: no life • 
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Uranus the God •  URANUS: Great primeval god of the Sky. Born of GAIA, the Earth, he covered the world in the form of a vast bronze dome and ruled over everything. Uranus Facts •  Diameter is like 4 Earth’s. •  Mass is 14.5 Earth’s. •  Takes 84 years to revolve around the sun. •  Day is a lidle over 17 hours long. •  Has more than 20 moons. Uranus Axis •  Uranus is considered unusual because the planet is 1pped on its side. The poles actually point towards the Sun. This is due to the fact that its magne1c field is 1lted 60 degrees from the axis of rota1on. •  Some scien1sts believe that Uranus was struck by a large object that knocked Uranus on its side. Uranus Diameter: 3.6 1mes larger than Earth’s Distance: 19 Au Atmosphere: 82% Hydrogen 15% Helium Features: extreme seasons because axis is 1pped on its side and no detail in cloud cover •  Life: no life, too cold, atmosphere and surface would not allow life as we know it. • 
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Neptune the God of the Sea •  Neptune is the Roman god of the sea. •  The Romans modeled him aler the Greek god Poseidon. Neptune •  Neptune revolves on its axis every 18 hours. •  It takes 165 years to revolve around the sun once. •  Has the mass of 17 Earths. •  Has 13 moons. •  Diameter is almost 4 1mes larger than Earths. •  Blue-­‐green color is from the methane in the atmosphere. •  At 1mes it is the furthest planet from the sun. Neptune Atmosphere •  80% hydrogen, 19% helium, and 1.5% methane. •  Has icy clouds and enormous storms. •  Has the fastest winds in our solar system. Neptune’s Rings •  Neptune's rings are much darker than Saturn's bright rings. •  Saturn's rings are made of ice, which reflects lots of light. Neptune's rings are probably made of rocks and dust. •  Rocks and dust don't reflect as much light. Neptune •  Diameter: 4 1mes the size of Earth •  Distance: 30 Au •  Atmosphere: 80% Hydrogen 19% Helium 1.5% Methane •  Features: At 1mes it is the furthest planet from the sun. Icy clouds and enormous storms •  Life: possible life on one of its moons called Triton