Rocky planets
Transcript
Our Solar System is a magnificent group of planets that circle, or orbit, a star called the Sun.
Sun
There are eight planets in our solar system.
Solar System
They vary enormously in size and appearance.
The four closest to the Sun are called the rocky planets, because they are mostly made of rock and metal.
Rocky Planets
Mercury is the closest to the Sun.
average distance from the Sun
58,000,000 km
Mercury
It's the smallest planet in our Solar System, but very heavy for its size, because it's mostly made up of iron.
Mercury has the greatest temperature variation of any planet.
iron
At nighttime, temperatures drop to –180°C.
–180°C
But soar to 450°C during the day.
450°C
Venus is next in line.
average distance from Sun
108,000,000km
Venus
There is virtually no water on Venus, because of the extreme heat.
Its surface is covered in volcanoes that are continually erupting.
Venus spins east to west, the opposite direction to all the other planets.
Venus is the closest planet to Earth.
average distance from the Sun
150,000,000km
Earth
Our planet is mostly covered in water and the weather on Earth is the most unpredictable in the Solar System.
Amazingly, it is the only planet known to have life.
Mars is the last of the rocky planets.
average distance from the Sun
280,000,000km
Mars
It is known as the 'Red Planet', because of the colour of its dust,
Mars has the most extreme landscape in the whole Solar System.
It has a huge volcano that is twice the size of Mount Everest and a canyon that is so long that it would take over two days to drive its length.
Robots have been looking for signs of life on Mars.
And scientists are investigating if the red planet could one day be home to humans.
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Our Solar System is a group of planets that move around, or orbit, the Sun. The Sun is a star.
Sun
There are eight planets in our Solar System.
Solar System
They are all different in size and appearance.
The four that are closest to the Sun are called the rocky planets. They are mostly made of rock and metal.
Rocky Planets
Mercury is the closest to the Sun.
average distance from the Sun
58,000,000 km
Mercury
Mercury is the smallest planet in our Solar System. It is very heavy for its size. That’s because it is mostly made of iron.
Mercury has the biggest differences in temperature of any planet.
iron
At night-time, the temperature drops to minus 180 degrees Celsius.
–180°C
During the day, the temperature rises to 450 degrees Celsius.
450°C
Venus is the second planet from the Sun.
average distance from Sun
108,000,000km
Venus
There is almost no water on Venus. That’s because it is very hot.
Its surface is covered in volcanoes. They are always erupting.
Venus spins east to west. This is the opposite direction to all the other planets.
Venus is the closest planet to Earth.
average distance from the Sun
150,000,000km
Earth
Our planet is mostly covered in water. The weather on Earth changes a lot.
It is the only planet known to have life.
Mars is the last rocky planet.
average distance from the Sun
280,000,000km
Mars
It is known as the ‘red planet’. That’s because it is covered in red dust.
Mars has a very extreme landscape.
It has a huge volcano that is twice the size of Mount Everest! It also has a very long canyon. It would take over two days to drive the canyon’s length.
Robots are looking for signs of life on Mars.
In the future, maybe humans could live on Mars!
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
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