Planets of the Universe
Mercury
Mercury
Temperature: Mercury can reach extreme temperature variation. Mercury may reach 450 degrees C (840 degrees F) during the day. But at night, the temperature may drop as low as -170 degrees C (-275 degrees F).
Average Distance: About 58 million km
The Planet Mercury is the closest planet to our sun and is the smallest planet in the solar system.The surface of Mercury consists of craters similar to those on the moon, the craters were formed when meteors or small comets crashed into the planet. Like the other terrestrial planets (Venus, Earth and Mars) Mercury is made mostly of rock and metal. Mercury's surface appears to be much like that of the moon. It reflects approximately 6 percent of the sunlight it receives, about the same as the moon's surface reflects. Like the moon, Mercury is covered by a thin layer of minerals called silicates in the form of tiny particles.
Temperature: Mercury can reach extreme temperature variation. Mercury may reach 450 degrees C (840 degrees F) during the day. But at night, the temperature may drop as low as -170 degrees C (-275 degrees F).
Average Distance: About 58 million km
The Planet Mercury is the closest planet to our sun and is the smallest planet in the solar system.The surface of Mercury consists of craters similar to those on the moon, the craters were formed when meteors or small comets crashed into the planet. Like the other terrestrial planets (Venus, Earth and Mars) Mercury is made mostly of rock and metal. Mercury's surface appears to be much like that of the moon. It reflects approximately 6 percent of the sunlight it receives, about the same as the moon's surface reflects. Like the moon, Mercury is covered by a thin layer of minerals called silicates in the form of tiny particles.
Venus
Venus
travel time: 1 month Temperature: A thick atmosphere stops heat escaping, resulting in temperature of up to 460*C
Temperature: A thick atmosphere stops heat escaping, resulting in temperature of up to 460*C
Venus, the second planet from the sun people sometimes described as earth's ugly sister. It is slightly smaller than earth and spins very slowly, its day is longer that its year. It spins in the opposite direction to earth, so on Venus the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Venus has an atmosphere, but it's not the type of air for humans to breath (it is mainly carbon dioxide gas). Above the blanket of gas, clouds full of sulfuric acid rain swirl around the planet, blown by winds of up to 360km/h.
travel time: 1 month Temperature: A thick atmosphere stops heat escaping, resulting in temperature of up to 460*C
Temperature: A thick atmosphere stops heat escaping, resulting in temperature of up to 460*C
Venus, the second planet from the sun people sometimes described as earth's ugly sister. It is slightly smaller than earth and spins very slowly, its day is longer that its year. It spins in the opposite direction to earth, so on Venus the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Venus has an atmosphere, but it's not the type of air for humans to breath (it is mainly carbon dioxide gas). Above the blanket of gas, clouds full of sulfuric acid rain swirl around the planet, blown by winds of up to 360km/h.
Earth
Earth
temperature: -30*C to 50*C
Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to sustain life. This is because earth is an ideal distance from sun for water to exist in its liquid from rather than ice or water vapour. Life on earth also depends on its atmosphere, the thin layer of gas that surrounds the planet. This atmosphere also is unique because it contains so much oxygen (twenty per cent). Earth's atmosphere also screens out harmful radiation from the sun and causes meteorites to burn up before they reach the surface. For this reason Earth has few craters. From space, Earth's has
temperature: -30*C to 50*C
Earth is the only planet in the solar system known to sustain life. This is because earth is an ideal distance from sun for water to exist in its liquid from rather than ice or water vapour. Life on earth also depends on its atmosphere, the thin layer of gas that surrounds the planet. This atmosphere also is unique because it contains so much oxygen (twenty per cent). Earth's atmosphere also screens out harmful radiation from the sun and causes meteorites to burn up before they reach the surface. For this reason Earth has few craters. From space, Earth's has
Mars
Mars
Temperature: On Mars is about minus 80 degrees F (minus 60 degrees C). In winter, near the poles temperatures can get down to minus 195 degrees F (minus 125 degrees C). A summer day on Mars may get up to 70 degrees F (20 degrees C) near the equator, but at night the temperature can plummet to about minus 100 degrees F (minus 73 C).
Mars is sometimes referred to as the Red Planet. Mars excites scientists because its mild temperament is more like the Earth's than any of the other planets. Evidence suggests that Mars once had rivers, streams, lakes, and even an ocean.As Mars' atmosphere slowly depleted into outer space, the surface water began to permanently evaporate. Today the only water on Mars in either frozen in the polar caps or underground.
Temperature: On Mars is about minus 80 degrees F (minus 60 degrees C). In winter, near the poles temperatures can get down to minus 195 degrees F (minus 125 degrees C). A summer day on Mars may get up to 70 degrees F (20 degrees C) near the equator, but at night the temperature can plummet to about minus 100 degrees F (minus 73 C).
Mars is sometimes referred to as the Red Planet. Mars excites scientists because its mild temperament is more like the Earth's than any of the other planets. Evidence suggests that Mars once had rivers, streams, lakes, and even an ocean.As Mars' atmosphere slowly depleted into outer space, the surface water began to permanently evaporate. Today the only water on Mars in either frozen in the polar caps or underground.
Jupiter
Jupiter
Temperature: The temperature at the top of Jupiter's clouds is around -145C (-230F). Deeper below the clouds the temperate reaches 21C (70F). Near the planet's center the temperature is hotter than the surface of the Sun
Diameter: Its diameter is 88,846 miles (142,984 km), more than 11 times that of Earth, and about one-tenth that of the sun.
What we see when looking at these planets is the tops of clouds high in their atmospheres (slightly above the 1 atmosphere level). Jupiter is about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium with traces of methane, water, ammonia and "rock". This is very close to the composition of the primordial Solar Nebula from which the entire solar system was formed. Saturn has a similar composition, but Uranus and Neptune have much less hydrogen and helium.
Temperature: The temperature at the top of Jupiter's clouds is around -145C (-230F). Deeper below the clouds the temperate reaches 21C (70F). Near the planet's center the temperature is hotter than the surface of the Sun
Diameter: Its diameter is 88,846 miles (142,984 km), more than 11 times that of Earth, and about one-tenth that of the sun.
What we see when looking at these planets is the tops of clouds high in their atmospheres (slightly above the 1 atmosphere level). Jupiter is about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium with traces of methane, water, ammonia and "rock". This is very close to the composition of the primordial Solar Nebula from which the entire solar system was formed. Saturn has a similar composition, but Uranus and Neptune have much less hydrogen and helium.
Saturn
Saturn
Diameter: 120 536km
Temperature: -184 degrees Celsius (-300F)
Saturn is similar to Jupiter, but it is much smaller. It is the second largest planet in our Solar System and it is a gas giant like Jupiter. Under the clouds of methane, hydrogen and helium, the sky gradually turns into liquid until it becomes a giant ocean of liquid chemicals. Saturn is a light weight planet and it spins so fast, Saturn isn't perfectly round like most other planets.
Diameter: 120 536km
Temperature: -184 degrees Celsius (-300F)
Saturn is similar to Jupiter, but it is much smaller. It is the second largest planet in our Solar System and it is a gas giant like Jupiter. Under the clouds of methane, hydrogen and helium, the sky gradually turns into liquid until it becomes a giant ocean of liquid chemicals. Saturn is a light weight planet and it spins so fast, Saturn isn't perfectly round like most other planets.
Uranus
Uranus
1 Rotation: 17.2 hours
Uranus is a Gas giant. Uranus is a little different to the other planets, Uranus spins on its side. Like Saturn Uranus the atmosphere is thick and made up of methane, hydrogen and helium. But Uranus is an extremely cold planet, it has been called the "Ice planet". it is believed that the core is made out of rocks and ice and is believed to be trillions of large diamonds under the ground.
1 Rotation: 17.2 hours
Uranus is a Gas giant. Uranus is a little different to the other planets, Uranus spins on its side. Like Saturn Uranus the atmosphere is thick and made up of methane, hydrogen and helium. But Uranus is an extremely cold planet, it has been called the "Ice planet". it is believed that the core is made out of rocks and ice and is believed to be trillions of large diamonds under the ground.
Neptune
Neptune
Moons: 13 moons
Neptune is the smallest of the four gas giants in our Solar System. Much like Saturn and Uranus, Neptune's atmosphere contains hydrogen, helium and methane. Neptune is a very windy place, No other planet in the Solar system has winds that are as strong. The winds near the Great Dark Spot were believed to have reached nearly 1,200 miles per hour (approx 1931 km per hour).
Moons: 13 moons
Neptune is the smallest of the four gas giants in our Solar System. Much like Saturn and Uranus, Neptune's atmosphere contains hydrogen, helium and methane. Neptune is a very windy place, No other planet in the Solar system has winds that are as strong. The winds near the Great Dark Spot were believed to have reached nearly 1,200 miles per hour (approx 1931 km per hour).