Untitled Flashcards Overview of the Eight Planets in Our Solar System

Terrestrial Planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars; rocky, dense cores.

Jovian Planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; gaseous with solid cores.

Mercury Smallest planet; no atmosphere, extreme temperatures.

Venus Hostile atmosphere; high pressure and toxic chemicals.

Mars Half Earth's diameter; ice water beneath surface.

Olympus Mons Largest volcano in the solar system, located on Mars.

Jupiter Largest planet; features the Great Red Spot storm.

Saturn Least dense planet; composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.

Saturn's Rings Made of water ice and dust, varying sizes.

Uranus Coldest planet; rotates on its side.

Neptune Smallest gas giant; has the strongest winds.

Pluto Demoted to dwarf planet; has 7 moons.

Atmospheric Composition of Venus 96% CO2, 3% Nitrogen, thick sulfuric acid clouds.

Day Temperature of Mercury 430 degrees Celsius due to lack of atmosphere.

Night Temperature of Mercury -183 degrees Celsius due to lack of atmosphere.

Air Pressure on Venus 92 times greater than Earth's atmospheric pressure.

Density of Terrestrial Planets Significantly greater than water.

Density of Jovian Planets About the same as water.

Wind Speed on Neptune Can reach 2100 km/h, strongest in the solar system.

Blue Color of Uranus and Neptune Caused by methane in their atmospheres.

Great Red Spot A massive storm on Jupiter, persistent for centuries.