Sun, Moon, Earth,
How do they work together
to help life survive?
The Planets
What is a planet?
• According to the IAU
(International Astronomical
Union) a planet must meet these
three guidelines.
What is a planet?
• According to the IAU
(International Astronomical
Union) a planet must meet these
three guidelines.
1. Is in orbit around the sun.
What is a planet?
• According to the IAU
(International Astronomical
Union) a planet must meet these
three guidelines.
1. Is in orbit around the sun.
2. Has enough mass to maintain a
nearly round shape.
What is a planet?
• According to the IAU
(International Astronomical
Union) a planet must meet these
three guidelines.
1. Is in orbit around the sun.
2. Has enough mass to maintain a
nearly round shape.
• Called hydrostatic equilibrium.
What is a planet?
• According to the IAU
(International Astronomical
Union) a planet must meet these
three guidelines.
1. Is in orbit around the sun.
2. Has enough mass to maintain a
nearly round shape.
• Called hydrostatic equilibrium.
3. Has cleared the neighborhood
around its orbit.
What is a planet?
• Dwarf Planets:
What is a planet?
• Dwarf Planets:
– Must do #1 and #2.
What is a planet?
• Dwarf Planets:
– Must do #1 and #2.
– Does not do #3.
What is a planet?
• Dwarf Planets:
– Must do #1 and #2.
– Does not do #3.
– Is not a satellite.
What is a planet?
• Dwarf Planets:
–
–
–
–
Must do #1 and #2.
Does not do #3.
Is not a satellite.
Currently there are 5 dwarf planets:
•
•
•
•
•
Ceres (between Mars and Jupiter)
Pluto
Makemake
Eris
Haumea
Mercury:
Mercury:
• Temperature range: believed to be
from -184°C to 427°C
Mercury:
• Temperature range: believed to be
from -184°C to 427°C
• Rotation time: 58.6 Earth days.
Mercury:
• Temperature range: believed to be
from -184°C to 427°C
• Rotation time: 58.6 Earth days.
• Orbit: 88 Earth days
Mercury:
• Temperature range: believed to be
from -184°C to 427°C
• Rotation time: 58.6 Earth days.
• Orbit: 88 Earth days
• Mass: The Earth is 18 times more
massive than Mercury.
Mercury:
• Temperature range: believed to be
from -184°C to 427°C
• Rotation time: 58.6 Earth days.
• Orbit: 88 Earth days
• Mass: The Earth is 18 times more
massive than Mercury.
• Diameter: 4,878 km (about 40% of
the Earth’s
Mercury:
• Moons: none
Mercury:
• Moons: none
• Water: Polar ice that never melts.
Mercury:
• Moons: none
• Water: Polar ice that never melts.
• Atmosphere: very thin, contains
H, He, O, Na, Ca, and K. Removed
and replenished constantly.
Mercury:
• Moons: none
• Water: Polar ice that never melts.
• Atmosphere: very thin, contains
H, He, O, Na, Ca, and K. Removed
and replenished constantly.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on the Earth
weighs 37.8 pounds on Mercury.
Mercury:
• Moons: none
• Water: Polar ice that never melts.
• Atmosphere: very thin, contains
H, He, O, Na, Ca, and K. Removed
and replenished constantly.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on the Earth
weighs 37.8 pounds on Mercury.
• Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Mercury:
• Moons: none
• Water: Polar ice that never melts.
• Atmosphere: very thin, contains
H, He, O, Na, Ca, and K. Removed
and replenished constantly.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on the Earth
weighs 37.8 pounds on Mercury.
• Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
• Distance to sun: 58 million km
Venus:
Venus:
• Temperature range: from 850°F to
950°F.
Venus:
• Temperature range: from 850°F to
950°F.
• Rotation time: 243 Earth days
Venus:
• Temperature range: from 850°F to
950°F.
• Rotation time: 243 Earth days
• Orbit: 225 Earth days
Venus:
• Temperature range: from 850°F to
950°F.
• Rotation time: 243 Earth days
• Orbit: 225 Earth days
• Mass: The Earth is 1.0 times more
massive than Venus.
Venus:
• Temperature range: from 850°F to
950°F.
• Rotation time: 243 Earth days
• Orbit: 225 Earth days
• Mass: The Earth is 1.0 times more
massive than Venus.
• Diameter: 12,100 km
Venus:
• Moons: None
Venus:
• Moons: None
• Water: yes
Venus:
• Moons: None
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide
(95%), Nitrogen, Sulfuric Acid,
and trace elements.
Venus:
• Moons: None
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide
(95%), Nitrogen, Sulfuric Acid,
and trace elements.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 90.7 pounds on Venus.
Venus:
• Moons: None
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide
(95%), Nitrogen, Sulfuric Acid,
and trace elements.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 90.7 pounds on Venus.
• Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Venus:
• Moons: None
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide
(95%), Nitrogen, Sulfuric Acid,
and trace elements.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 90.7 pounds on Venus.
• Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
• Distance to sun: 108 million km
Earth:
Earth:
• Temperature range: -69°C to 58°C
Earth:
• Temperature range: -69°C to 58°C
• Rotation time: 24 hours
Earth:
• Temperature range: -69°C to 58°C
• Rotation time: 24 hours
• Orbit: 365.26 days
Earth:
•
•
•
•
Temperature range: -69°C to 58°C
Rotation time: 24 hours
Orbit: 365.26 days
24
Mass: 5.98 X 10 kg
Earth:
•
•
•
•
•
Temperature range: -69°C to 58°C
Rotation time: 24 hours
Orbit: 365.26 days
24
Mass: 5.98 X 10 kg
Diameter: 12,800 km
Earth:
• Moons: one
Earth:
• Moons: one
• Water: Yes, in all forms.
Earth:
• Moons: one
• Water: Yes, in all forms.
• Atmosphere: Nitrogen (78.1%,
20.9% Oxygen and trace amounts
of Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Helium,
Hydrogen, and Methane.
Earth:
• Moons: one
• Water: Yes, in all forms.
• Atmosphere: Nitrogen (78.1%,
20.9% Oxygen and trace amounts
of Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Helium,
Hydrogen, and Methane.
• Distance to sun: 150 million km
Mars:
Mars:
• Temperature range: -220°F to
60°F.
Mars:
• Temperature range: -220°F to
60°F.
• Rotation time: 24 hours 37
minutes.
Mars:
• Temperature range: -220°F to
60°F.
• Rotation time: 24 hours 37
minutes.
• Orbit: 687 Earth days
Mars:
• Temperature range: -220°F to
60°F.
• Rotation time: 24 hours 37
minutes.
• Orbit: 687 Earth days
• Mass: The Earth is 9.3 times more
massive than Mars.
Mars:
• Temperature range: -220°F to
60°F.
• Rotation time: 24 hours 37
minutes.
• Orbit: 687 Earth days
• Mass: The Earth is 9.3 times more
massive than Mars.
• Diameter: 6,796 km
Mars:
•
Moons: two (Phobos and Deimos
Mars:
•
•
Moons: two (Phobos and Deimos
Water: Two permanent polar ice caps
Mars:
•
•
•
Moons: two (Phobos and Deimos
Water: Two permanent polar ice caps
Atmosphere: Carbon dioxide (95%),,
Nitrogen, Argon, Oxygen, and trace
water vapor and carbon monoxide.
Mars:
•
•
•
•
Moons: two (Phobos and Deimos
Water: Two permanent polar ice caps
Atmosphere: Carbon dioxide (95%),,
Nitrogen, Argon, Oxygen, and trace
water vapor and carbon monoxide.
Gravity: 100 pounds on the Earth
weighs 37.7 pounds on Mars.
Mars:
•
•
•
•
•
Moons: two (Phobos and Deimos
Water: Two permanent polar ice caps
Atmosphere: Carbon dioxide (95%),,
Nitrogen, Argon, Oxygen, and trace
water vapor and carbon monoxide.
Gravity: 100 pounds on the Earth
weighs 37.7 pounds on Mars.
Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Mars:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Moons: two (Phobos and Deimos
Water: Two permanent polar ice caps
Atmosphere: Carbon dioxide (95%),,
Nitrogen, Argon, Oxygen, and trace
water vapor and carbon monoxide.
Gravity: 100 pounds on the Earth
weighs 37.7 pounds on Mars.
Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Distance to sun: 228 million km.
Jupiter:
Jupiter:
• Temperature range: -163°C to 121°C.
Jupiter:
• Temperature range: -163°C to 121°C.
• Rotation time: 9 hours 55 minutes
Earth time.
Jupiter:
• Temperature range: -163°C to 121°C.
• Rotation time: 9 hours 55 minutes
Earth time.
• Orbit: 12 Earth years
Jupiter:
• Temperature range: -163°C to 121°C.
• Rotation time: 9 hours 55 minutes
Earth time.
• Orbit: 12 Earth years
• Mass: 318 times more massive
than the Earth.
Jupiter:
• Temperature range: -163°C to 121°C.
• Rotation time: 9 hours 55 minutes
Earth time.
• Orbit: 12 Earth years
• Mass: 318 times more massive
than the Earth.
• Diameter: 85,788 miles
Jupiter:
• Moons: 63 have been found with
Ganymede the largest (bigger
than Mercury and Pluto).
Jupiter:
• Moons: 63 have been found with
Ganymede the largest (bigger
than Mercury and Pluto).
• Water: yes
Jupiter:
• Moons: 63 have been found with
Ganymede the largest (bigger
than Mercury and Pluto).
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and
Helium (10%).
Jupiter:
• Moons: 63 have been found with
Ganymede the largest (bigger
than Mercury and Pluto).
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and
Helium (10%).
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 236.4 pounds here.
Jupiter:
• Moons: 63 have been found with
Ganymede the largest (bigger
than Mercury and Pluto).
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and
Helium (10%).
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 236.4 pounds here.
• Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Jupiter:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Moons: 63 have been found with
Ganymede the largest (bigger than
Mercury and Pluto).
Water: yes
Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and
Helium (10%).
Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs
236.4 pounds here.
Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Distance to sun: 778 million km
Saturn:
Saturn:
• Temperature range: -178°C
Saturn:
• Temperature range: -178°C
• Rotation time: 10 hours, 40
minutes, and 24 seconds Earth
time
Saturn:
• Temperature range: -178°C
• Rotation time: 10 hours, 40
minutes, and 24 seconds Earth
time
• Orbit: 29.5 Earth years
Saturn:
• Temperature range: -178°C
• Rotation time: 10 hours, 40
minutes, and 24 seconds Earth
time
• Orbit: 29.5 Earth years
• Mass: 95 times more massive
than the Earth.
Saturn:
• Temperature range: -178°C
• Rotation time: 10 hours, 40
minutes, and 24 seconds Earth
time
• Orbit: 29.5 Earth years
• Mass: 95 times more massive
than the Earth.
• Diameter: 120,660 km (about 10
times larger than the Earth)
Saturn:
•
Moons: 31 including Titan, Hyperion,
Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe
Saturn:
•
•
Moons: 31 including Titan, Hyperion,
Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe
Water: yes
Saturn:
•
•
•
Moons: 31 including Titan, Hyperion,
Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe
Water: yes
Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen and
Helium with some Methane and
ammonia.
Saturn:
•
•
•
•
Moons: 31 including Titan, Hyperion,
Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe
Water: yes
Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen and
Helium with some Methane and
ammonia.
Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs
106.4 pounds on Saturn.
Saturn:
•
•
•
•
•
Moons: 31 including Titan, Hyperion,
Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe
Water: yes
Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen and
Helium with some Methane and
ammonia.
Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs
106.4 pounds on Saturn.
Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Saturn:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Moons: 31 including Titan, Hyperion,
Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe
Water: yes
Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen and
Helium with some Methane and
ammonia.
Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs
106.4 pounds on Saturn.
Discovered: Known since ancient
times.
Distance to sun: 1429 million km
Uranus:
Uranus:
• Temperature range: -197.15°C
Uranus:
• Temperature range: -197.15°C
• Rotation time: 17.24 hours Earth
time (rotates clockwise)
Uranus:
• Temperature range: -197.15°C
• Rotation time: 17.24 hours Earth
time (rotates clockwise)
• Orbit: 84 Earth years
Uranus:
• Temperature range: -197.15°C
• Rotation time: 17.24 hours Earth
time (rotates clockwise)
• Orbit: 84 Earth years
• Mass: 14.5 times more massive
than the Earth.
Uranus:
• Temperature range: -197.15°C
• Rotation time: 17.24 hours Earth
time (rotates clockwise)
• Orbit: 84 Earth years
• Mass: 14.5 times more massive
than the Earth.
• Diameter: 51,500 km
Uranus:
• Moons: 27
Uranus:
• Moons: 27
• Water: yes
Uranus:
• Moons: 27
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: 83% Hydrogen, 15%
Helium, 2% Methane, and trace
amounts of water and ammonia.
Uranus:
• Moons: 27
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: 83% Hydrogen, 15%
Helium, 2% Methane, and trace
amounts of water and ammonia.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 88.9 pounds on Uranus.
Uranus:
• Moons: 27
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: 83% Hydrogen, 15%
Helium, 2% Methane, and trace
amounts of water and ammonia.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 88.9 pounds on Uranus.
• Discovered: Sighted in 1690 but
figured out it was a planet in
1781.
Uranus:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Moons: 27
Water: yes
Atmosphere: 83% Hydrogen, 15%
Helium, 2% Methane, and trace
amounts of water and ammonia.
Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs
88.9 pounds on Uranus.
Discovered: Sighted in 1690 but
figured out it was a planet in 1781.
Distance to sun: 2871 million km
Neptune:
Neptune:
• Temperature range: -220°C
Neptune:
• Temperature range: -220°C
• Rotation time: 0.67 Earth days
Neptune:
• Temperature range: -220°C
• Rotation time: 0.67 Earth days
• Orbit: 164.8 Earth years
Neptune:
•
•
•
•
Temperature range: -220°C
Rotation time: 0.67 Earth days
Orbit: 164.8 Earth years
Mass: 17.15 times more massive
than the Earth.
Neptune:
•
•
•
•
Temperature range: -220°C
Rotation time: 0.67 Earth days
Orbit: 164.8 Earth years
Mass: 17.15 times more massive
than the Earth.
• Diameter: 49,500 km
Neptune:
• Moons: 8 known
Neptune:
• Moons: 8 known
• Water: yes
Neptune:
• Moons: 8 known
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: 74% Hydrogen, 25%
Helium, and 1% Methane
Neptune:
• Moons: 8 known
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: 74% Hydrogen, 25%
Helium, and 1% Methane
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 112.5 pounds on Neptune.
Neptune:
• Moons: 8 known
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: 74% Hydrogen, 25%
Helium, and 1% Methane
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 112.5 pounds on Neptune.
• Discovered: Found in 1846.
Neptune:
• Moons: 8 known
• Water: yes
• Atmosphere: 74% Hydrogen, 25%
Helium, and 1% Methane
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 112.5 pounds on Neptune.
• Discovered: Found in 1846.
• Distance to sun: 4504 million km
Pluto:
Pluto:
• Temperature range: -233°C
Pluto:
• Temperature range: -233°C
• Rotation time: 6.39 Earth days
Pluto:
• Temperature range: -233°C
• Rotation time: 6.39 Earth days
• Orbit: 248 Earth years.
Pluto:
•
•
•
•
Temperature range: -233°C
Rotation time: 6.39 Earth days
Orbit: 248 Earth years.
Mass: 0.002 times that of Earth.
Pluto:
•
•
•
•
•
Temperature range: -233°C
Rotation time: 6.39 Earth days
Orbit: 248 Earth years.
Mass: 0.002 times that of Earth.
Diameter: 2,324 km
Pluto:
• Moons: One moon called Charon.
Pluto:
• Moons: One moon called Charon.
• Water: Unknown
Pluto:
• Moons: One moon called Charon.
• Water: Unknown
• Atmosphere: A frozen
atmosphere that melts and
refreezes.
Pluto:
• Moons: One moon called Charon.
• Water: Unknown
• Atmosphere: A frozen
atmosphere that melts and
refreezes.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 6.7 pounds on Pluto.
Pluto:
• Moons: One moon called Charon.
• Water: Unknown
• Atmosphere: A frozen
atmosphere that melts and
refreezes.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 6.7 pounds on Pluto.
• Discovered: Found in 1930.
Pluto:
• Moons: One moon called Charon.
• Water: Unknown
• Atmosphere: A frozen
atmosphere that melts and
refreezes.
• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth
weighs 6.7 pounds on Pluto.
• Discovered: Found in 1930.
• Distance to sun: 5913 million km