The Solar SystemThe Solar System
General Characteristics of Solar SystemGeneral Characteristics of Solar System
All planets revolve around Sun All planets revolve around Sun counterclockwise counterclockwise
All planets except Venus rotate on axis All planets except Venus rotate on axis counterclockwise counterclockwise
All planets orbits lie in plane of ecliptic All planets orbits lie in plane of ecliptic
Axes of planets except Uranus perpendicular Axes of planets except Uranus perpendicular to ecliptic to ecliptic
Compositional variation (Inner planets - Compositional variation (Inner planets - Terrestrial; Outer planets - Gaseous) Terrestrial; Outer planets - Gaseous)
Solar System FormationSolar System Formation
Planetary Planetary Composition:Composition:
Terrestrial vs JovianTerrestrial vs Jovian
Age of the Solar SystemAge of the Solar System
Age of EarthAge of Earth
Oldes
t Roc
k
Oldest Rock: 4.28 Billion YearsOldest Rock: 4.28 Billion Years
The Nuvvuagittuq Belton the coast of theHudson Bay in Northern Quebec
Oldest Mineral: 4.4 Billion YearsOldest Mineral: 4.4 Billion Years
The Jack Hills of Western Australia
Radiogenic Radiogenic Heating of EarthHeating of Earth
DifferentiationDifferentiation
Origin of the MoonOrigin of the Moon
The Solar SystemThe Solar System
The SunThe Sun
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 332,830332,830
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 109109
Mean DensityMean Density 1.411.41
Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature
6,000°C6,000°C
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
25-3625-36
CompositionComposition Hydrogen Hydrogen 92.1%92.1%
Helium 7.8%Helium 7.8%
Structure of the SunStructure of the Sun
InteriorInterior• Core: Core: Fusion of H to HeFusion of H to He
• Radiative ZoneRadiative ZoneEnergy Transported by Energy Transported by PhotonsPhotons
• Convection ZoneConvection ZoneEnergy Transported by Energy Transported by ConvectionConvection
AtmosphereAtmosphere• Photosphere: Photosphere: Visual Visual
SurfaceSurface
• Chromosphere: Chromosphere: Lower Lower Atmosphere; Faint Red GlowAtmosphere; Faint Red Glow
• Corona: Corona: Outer Atmosphere; Outer Atmosphere; Plasma Cloud; Over 1,000,000°CPlasma Cloud; Over 1,000,000°C
Chromosphere and CoronaChromosphere and Coronaduring Eclipseduring Eclipse
MercuryMercury
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 0.050.05
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.380.38
Mean DensityMean Density 5.425.42
Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature
179°C179°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
0.390.39
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
58.658.6
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 88.088.0
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 0.00.0
MercuryMercury
VenusVenus
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 0.810.81Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.950.95Mean DensityMean Density 5.255.25Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature
482°C482°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
0.720.72
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
243243
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 225225Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 177177
VenusVenus
VenusVenus
EarthEarth
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 11
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 11
Mean DensityMean Density 5.525.52
Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature
15°C15°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
11
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
11
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 365365
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 2323
MarsMars
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 1.071.07
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.530.53
Mean DensityMean Density 3.943.94
Mean SurfaceMean SurfaceTemperatureTemperature
-63°C-63°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
1.521.52
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
1.021.02
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 687687
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 2525
MarsMars
Planetary Cores and Magnetic FieldsPlanetary Cores and Magnetic Fields
MarsMars
JupiterJupiter
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 318318
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 11.211.2
Mean DensityMean Density 1.331.33
Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature
-121°C-121°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
5.25.2
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
0.410.41
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 43334333
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 33
JupiterJupiter
IoIo
EuropaEuropa
SaturnSaturn
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 95.295.2
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 9.459.45
Mean DensityMean Density 1.291.29
Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature
-125°C-125°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
9.549.54
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
0.430.43
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 10,75310,753
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 2525
SaturnSaturn
EnceladusEnceladus
UranusUranus
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 1.451.45
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 4.014.01
Mean DensityMean Density 1.291.29
Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature
-193°C-193°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
19.219.2
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
0.750.75
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 30,66430,664
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 9898
NeptuneNeptune
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 1.711.71
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 3.883.88
Mean DensityMean Density 1.641.64
Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature
-193°C-193°C
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
30.130.1
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
0.670.67
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 60,15260,152
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 3030
PlutoPluto
Mass (x Earth)Mass (x Earth) 0.0220.022
Radius (x Earth)Radius (x Earth) 0.180.18
Mean DensityMean Density 2.052.05
Mean Cloud Mean Cloud TemperatureTemperature
Distance from Sun Distance from Sun (AU)(AU)
39.539.5
Rotational Period Rotational Period (Days)(Days)
6.46.4
Orbital Period (Days)Orbital Period (Days) 90,71790,717
Tilt of AxisTilt of Axis 123123
Pluto and CharonPluto and Charon
Definition of a PlanetDefinition of a Planet Set in Set in 20062006 by the by the
International Astronomical UnionInternational Astronomical Union (IAU) (IAU) states that in the states that in the Solar SystemSolar System a a planetplanet is is a a celestial bodycelestial body that: that:
• is in is in orbitorbit around the around the SunSun, ,
• has sufficient mass to assume has sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibriumhydrostatic equilibrium (a nearly round shape), (a nearly round shape), and and
• has "has "cleared the cleared the neighbourhoodneighbourhood" around its " around its orbit. orbit.
Kuiper Belt and Oort CloudKuiper Belt and Oort Cloud