astronomy

Mercury (The Swift Planet)

Terrestrial (rocky, metal core)

57.9 million km from the Sun

Length of day: 59 Earth days

Temp (Low/High C): -180/430

Atmosphere is very thin (O and Na)

Length of year: 88 Earth days

Unique features: closest to the Sun, huge temp swings, has craters.

Venus (Earth’s Twin)

Terrestrial (rocky)

108.2 million km away from the Sun

Length of day: 243 Earth days

Temp (Low/high C): 465

Atmosphere consists of thick CO2, and sulfuric acid clouds

Length of year: 225 Earth days

Unique features: hottest planet, spins backwards, has volcanoes

Earth (The Blue Planet)

Terrestrial (rocky, water)

149.6 million km away from the Sun

Low/High temp: -89/58

Atmosphere consists of nitrogen and oxygen

Has 4 seasons (tilt = 23.5)

Unique features: only planet with life and liquid water

Mars (Red Planet)

Terrestrial (rocky, iron, oxide)

227.9 million km away from the Sun

Length of day: 24.6 hours

Low/High temp: -125/20

Atmosphere consists of thin CO2

Length of year: 687 days

Has seasons (tilt = 25)

Unique features: possible past water, Olympus Mons (largest volcano), Phobos and Deimos are its famous moons

Jupiter (The Giant Planet)

Gas giant (hydrogen, helium)

778.5 million km away from the Sun

Length of day: 10 hours

Low/High temp: -145

Atmosphere consists of thick hydrogen and helium

Length of year: 12 years

Unique features: largest planet, Great Red Spot storm, famous moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto

Saturn (The Ringed Planet)

Gas giant (hydrogen, helium)

1.43 billion km away from Sun

Length of day: 10.7 hours

Low/High temp: -178

Atmosphere consists of hydrogen and helium

Length of year: 29 years

Has seasons (tilt = 26)

Unique features: rings, low density, famous moons Titan and Enceladus

Uranus (The Sideways Planet)

Ice giant (water, methane, ammonia ices)

2.87 billion km away from the Sun

Length of day: 17 hours

Low/High temp: -224

Atmosphere consists of hydrogen, helium and methane

Length of year: 84 years

Has seasons (tilt = 98)

Unique features: rotates sideways, famous moons Titania, Oberon, Miranda, Ariel, and Umbriel

Neptune (The Windy Planet)

Ice giant (water, methane, ammonia ices)

4.5 billion km away from the Sun

Length of day: 16 hours

Low/High temp: -214

Atmosphere consists of hydrogen, helium, and methane

Length of year: 165 years

Has seasons (tilt = 28)

Unique features: famous moon Triton, strongest winds in the solar system