1. What are the inner planets?
The four planets closest to the sun are known as the
inner planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
2. Mercury
This picture of
Mercury was
made by joining
many smaller
photos taken by
Mariner 10. No
photos were taken
of the area that
looks smooth.
3. Mercury is the planet closest to
the Sun.
It is a small planet, a little bigger
than Earth’s moon.
Mercury is covered with
thousands of dents. The dents are
shaped like bowls and are called
craters.
Craters were made when
meteorites crashed into Mercury’s
surface long ago.
5. Venus is the second planet
from the Sun.
It is about the same size as Earth,
but Venus turns in the opposite
direction.
Like Mercury, Venus is very hot
and dry.
Unlike Mercury, Venus has an
atmosphere made of thick,
swirling clouds.
6. Using the chart, What is one reason people cannot live
on Mercury or Venus?
They are both too hot to live on!
7. Using the chart, how much longer is Venus’ Earth year?
137 years longer
9. Earth, our home, is the third
planet from the Sun.
It is also the solar system’s
largest rocky planet.
Earth is the only planet that
has liquid water on its surface.
In fact, most of Earth’s surface
is covered with water.
Earth is the only planet in the
solar system known to support
life.
11. Moons are satellites of
planets.
A satellite is an object that
orbits another object in space.
Just as planets revolve around
the Sun because of gravity,
moons revolve around planets.
Earth has one large moon.
The diameter of the Moon is
about one-fourth the diameter
of Earth.
13. The fourth planet from the
Sun is Mars.
The rocks and soil that cover
much of Mars contain the
mineral iron oxide.
This mineral is reddish-brown
in color. It is the same material
that makes up rust.
This has given Mars its
nickname, the "Red Planet."
30. Thank you for purchasing this product!
If you like what you see, consider
leaving feedback. Visit my Website to
see more of my products!
www.powerpointmaniac.com
Are you on Facebook? If so, join
Power Point Maniac’s Teaching
Resources to get ideas, resources, and
free stuff!
www.facebook.com/powerpointmaniac
