Exploring Planets in Our Solar System

1. Stephanie’s Planets

2. Sun We now know that the Sun is just a star. And so, it can be classified into categories like the other stars in the Universe. • Major Features • The sun lies at the heart of the solar system, where it is by far the largest object • it holds 99.8 percent of the solarsystem • What the sun is made of • The sun is made up of two main elements, Hydrogen and Helium • Technology • We can’t sent any technology to the sun because its to hot. • Facts • The Sun is the SolarSystem • The Sun is pretty bright • The Sun is middle aged

3. Mercury Mercury got its name from the Roman messenger, Mercury. Mercury was a fast messenger, so Mercury orbits the sun fast. • Major Features- Timocharis made the first recorded observation of Mercury in 265 BC. • What is it made of •  Mercury has a large core of liquid metal surrounded by a mantle of silica and a solid outer crust. • Technology we have sent up there • Humans have sent space probes to take pictures of Mercury from orbit around the planet,  • Interesting Facts • Mercury has an atmosphere • There might be ice on Mercury • Mercury has a magnetic field

4. Venus Venus was named after the Roman Goddess of Love (in Greek, Aphrodite) Crater • What is Venus made of? • Venus is made up of a central iron core and a rocky mantle, similar to the composition of Earth. Its atmosphere is mainly made up of carbon dioxide (96%) and nitrogen (3%), with small amounts of other gases. • Facts • Venus really is the Earth’s twin. •  Venus can be so bright it casts shadows • The atmosphere is very hostile

5. Earth The name "Earth" is derived from both English and German words • The name "Earth" is derived from both English and German words • Earth has a molten core consisting of mostly iron and nickel • MAJOR FEATURES • The grand canyon, the Bermuda triangle and its endless oceans. • Because of technology we live on this planet. • Fun Facts About earth • A photo of the earth has been taken from a distance of 3.7 billion miles. • The earth is smoother than a bowling ball. • 97% of water on earth is salted.

6. MarsMars is named after the Roman God of War Crater • Major features • The largest shield volcano on the Earth is Mauna Loa • Mars has a core that is mainly iron and sulfur • Technology Sent to mars • Around the world they have sent 4 rovers up there, they found rocks and evidence showing that we are NOT alone in this galaxy. • Interesting facts about Mars • Mars is actually pretty small • Mars has the tallest mountain in the Solar System • And Mars has the longest, deepest canyon in the Solar System Rover

7. Jupiter In the Roman pantheon, Jupiter began as the sky god • Major Features • Because Jupiter is not solid its parts do not rotate at exactly the same velocity. • It also has an large, complex, and very intense magnetic field, and has a system of 16 moons • Jupiter is mainly composed of hydrogen and helium just like a star. • Technology • The exploration of Jupiter has to date been conducted via close observations by automated aircrafts. • Interesting Facts • Jupiter is the fastest spinning planet in the Solar System. • Jupiter is massive. • Jupiter can’t ever become a star.

8. Saturn Saturn was named after the Roman god of agriculture • Major Features • Saturn is the second most massive planet, and also the second largest in size • Saturn has the lowest density of any planet, 0.7 g/cc, which is less than that of water. • Interesting Facts • Saturn is the least dense planet in the Solar System • Saturn is a flattened ball • The first astronomers thought the rings were moons. • Technology we sent to Saturn • In the year 1973 the United States of America sent the space probe Pioneer-Saturn to fly past, and study Jupiter and Saturn. • What Saturn is made of • Saturn is composed of 96% hydrogen, 3% helium, and 1% various trace elements that include methane, ammonia, ethane, and hydrogen deuteride.

9. Uranus Uranus is named after the ancient Greek god of the sky, who was the father of Kronos • Technology • A Trojan asteroid is a transient space rock which is temporarily captured by the gravity of a giant planet • Facts • Uranus is the coldest planet in the Solar System •  Uranus is turned over on its side • Summer on Uranus lasts one long day – 42 years

10. Neptune Neptune was named after the god of the sea • Major Features •  It is the last non-controversial planet in the solar system. • What Neptune is made of • The core of Neptune is probably composed of liquid rock • Technology we have sent to Neptune. • Neptune has not yet been discovered. Also no technology has been sent to Neptune. In the 20 years we will be sending a rover to explore Neptune. • Facts • The core of Neptune is probably composed of liquid rock • Neptune is the smallest of the gas giants • Neptune’s surface gravity is almost Earthlike

11. Criteria to be a planet • It must be an object which independently orbits the Sun • It must have enough mass so that gravity pulls it into a roughly steroidal shape • It must be large enough to "dominate" its orbit (ie. its mass must be much larger than anything else which crosses its orbit

12. Pluto • Why Pluto Was Demoted • It needs to be in orbit around the Sun – Yes, so maybe Pluto is a planet. • It needs to have enough gravity to pull itself into a spherical shape – Pluto…check • It needs to have “cleared the neighborhood” of its orbit – Uh oh. Here’s the rule breaker. According to this, Pluto is not a planet.