the inner planets mercury venus earth mars why they are called the “inner planets” the inner...

The Inner PlanetsThe Inner Planets

Mercury Venus Earth Mars

Why they are called the “Inner Planets”

The inner planets are the four planets that lie between the Sun and the asteroid belt.

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

The planets that are located after the

asteroid belt are called the outer planets.

That makes sense, doesn’t it?

Characteristics of the Inner Characteristics of the Inner PlanetsPlanets

• Closest to the Sun• Composed mostly of solid rock• Each have a core, a mantle, and a crust• Many craters of varying sizes• Sometimes called the “terrestrial planets”, because of their similarities to Earth• Smaller than most of the outer planets

MercuryMercury

• Distance from the sun: 57,909,175 km

• Origin of Name: the Roman messenger of

the gods• Size (in diameter): 4,880 km• Interesting Fact: The temperature can range

from -200 C to over 430 C!

VenusVenus

• Distance from the Sun: 108,208,930 km

• Origin of Name: The Roman goddess of love

and beauty• Size (in diameter): 12,103.6 km• Interesting Fact: It is sometimes known as

Earth’s “sister planet” because of their similar size, mass, volume, and density!

EarthEarth

• Distance from the Sun: 149,597,890 km

• Origin of Name: Old English and Germanic• Size (in diameter): 12,756.3 km • Interesting Fact: The Earth is not perfectly

round, but actually pear-shaped!

MarsMars

• Distance from the Sun: 227,936,640 km

• Origin of Name: the Roman god of war

• Size (in diameter): 6,794 km

• Interesting Fact: The month of March got its

name from Mars!

Explore the Inner Planets…and beyond!

The Inner Planets by a 2nd grade class The Inner Planets by Star Child BrainPop: Mars BrainPop: The Sun BrainPop: Planets of the Solar System The Discovery Channel on Space

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