Objective – Using references, I can identify properties and characteristics of planets.

Solar System Fact Sheet

Sun
  • Center of Solar System
  • Star
  • Has dark spots on surface called Sunspots
  • Surface temperature around 10,000o F.
Mercury
  • Has no moon
  • Year 88 earth days long
  • Has so many craters it looks like Moon
  • Closest planet to the Sun
  • Revolves at 30 miles per second
  • Largest feature Caloris Basin
  • Very thin atmosphere
  • Temperature range from 800ºF. to
–300º F.
  • Smallest planet in the Solar System
  • Rocky Planet
Venus
  • Temperature range from 850o – 900o F.
  • Hottest planet in the Solar System
  • Has no moon
  • Entire surface covered in clouds
  • Brightest object in the nighttime sky after
the moon
  • When seen at night called the evening
star
  • When seen in the morning called the
morning star
  • Closest planet to Earth
  • Planet rotates backwards
  • 2nd planet from the Sun
  • Rocky Planet
Uranus
  • Was hit by a large object and knocked on
its side
  • 7th planet from the Sun
  • Has faint rings
  • Dark blue in color
  • Temperature –357º F.
  • First planet discovered using telescope
  • First named after King George III
Neptune
  • Named for Roman god of sea
  • Farthest planet from the Sun
  • Atmosphere has many storms
  • Fastest winds in the Solar System
  • 750 –1,240 mph
  • Dark blue in color
  • Has faint rings
  • Temperature of –385º F.
  • 2.8 billion miles from Sun
  • Discovered using math
Pluto
  • Largest dwarf planet
  • Named after Roman god of the
underworld
  • Has five moons – Charon,Nix, Kerberos,
Hydra Styx
  • Temperature –380° F.
/ Mars
  • Called the Red Planet
  • Looks like a red star from Earth
  • Has two moon phobos Deimos
  • Has largest volcano in the Solar System –
Olympus Mons.
  • Candy bar named after this planet.
  • Temperatures ranging from –67º to 80ºF.
  • Subject of many science fiction movies
  • Fourth planet from the Sun
  • Rocky Planet
  • 4th planet from Sun
Jupiter
  • Great red spot most noticeable feature
  • High winds in clouds
  • Has over 60 moon
  • Largest Planet
  • Gas Giant
  • Four largest moons – Io, Callisto, Europa,
Ganymede
  • Temperature about –234º F.
  • 5th Planet from Sun
Saturn
  • Float in water.
  • Brightest rings in the Solar System
  • 2nd largest planet in Solar System
  • 2nd largest moon in Solar System titan
  • Temperature about –288º F.
  • Gas Giant
  • 6th planet from Sun

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