The document summarizes the key facts about each of the planets in our solar system. It discusses the inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, and their characteristics including sizes, compositions, atmospheres and other features. It then discusses the outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and the former planet Pluto, noting their compositions as gas giants and details about their moons, rings and other distinguishing attributes.

1. 8 th Grade- Chapter 1 Lesson 6 Pgs.39-49 For Student Use Only

2. The Planets Planet- “wanderers” were named planets because the moved through the constellations The planets are divided into Inner planets and Outer Planets Inner planets- nearest Sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) Outer planets-farther from Sun (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)

3. The Planets Mercury- Rocky, barren, craters- similar to our moon 2 nd smallest planet, fastest planet (30mi/second) No atmosphere (extreme temps)

4. The Planets Venus- Starlike planet- called morning or evening star depending on when the star is visible) Covered in highly reflective clouds made of sulfuric acid Earth’s twin planet Run-away Greenhouse effect- hottest planet High pressure, and no water on surface

5. The Planets Mars- Red Planet- from iron rust in sand 2 moons- Phobos and Deimos Has a thin atmosphere Rugged terrain Physical Features: Valles Marineris- big trench Olympus Mons- volcano (3x as large as Mt. Everest)

6. The Planets Jupiter Largest planet in Solar System Gas Giant- made of Hydrogen and Helium Great Red Spot is an anticyclone Strong magnetic field Has many moons (28 have been discovered now)- 4 most known moons: Ganymede (largest moon), Europa, Callisto, and Io (is home to the first active volcano ever discovered on another planet)

7. The Planets Saturn Has icy, dusty rings Gas Giant- Hydrogen and Helium Least Dense planet Has many moons- (30 have been discovered now)- Most known moons- Mimas (golf ball), Iapetus, Phoebe and Titan (best known moon)

8. The Planets Uranus Third largest planet Possibly has liquid water that covers a solid core the size of Earth Has many moons- (21 discovered now)- most known moons- Miranda Has rings like Saturn Rotates on its side

9. The Planets Neptune Methane makes Neptune blue Strong winds Great Dark Spot- (might be a cyclone) Possibly mostly water like Uranus Many moons- most known- Triton (atmosphere and magnetic field)

10. The Planets Pluto No longer the 9 th planet Smallest planet (more like a moon) Double planet- Charon (moon) and Pluto orbit each other and are about the same size Pluto and Neptune cross orbits and Neptune becomes the farthest planet