Sun, Moon, Earth,

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.



1. Is in orbit around the sun.




2. Has enough mass to maintain a nearly round shape.




2. Has enough mass to maintain a nearly round shape.• Called hydrostatic equilibrium.




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:


– Must do #1 and #2.



– Does not do #3.



– Does not do #3.

– Is not a satellite.



– 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



• Rotation time: 58.6 Earth days.




• Orbit: 88 Earth days





• Mass: The Earth is 18 times more massive than Mercury.





• Mass: The Earth is 18 times more massive than Mercury.

• Diameter: 4,878 km (about 40% of the Earth’s

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.



• Distance to sun: 58 million km

Venus:

Venus:• Temperature range: from 850°F to

950°F.


950°F.

• Rotation time: 243 Earth days


950°F.




950°F.



• Mass: The Earth is 1.0 times more massive than Venus.


950°F.



• Mass: The Earth is 1.0 times more massive than Venus.

• Diameter: 12,100 km

Venus:• Moons: None


• Water: yes


• Water: yes

• Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide (95%), Nitrogen, Sulfuric Acid, and trace elements.


• Water: yes


• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs 90.7 pounds on Venus.


• Water: yes




Venus:• Moons: None• Water: yes• Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide

(95%), Nitrogen, Sulfuric Acid, and trace elements.




Earth:

Earth:• Temperature range: -69°C to 58°C


• Rotation time: 24 hours



• Orbit: 365.26 days




• Mass: 5.98 X 10 kg24




• Mass: 5.98 X 10 kg


24

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.



• Atmosphere: Nitrogen (78.1%, 20.9% Oxygen and trace amounts of Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Helium, Hydrogen, and Methane.


Mars:

Mars:• Temperature range: -220°F to

60°F.


60°F.

• Rotation time: 24 hours 37 minutes.


60°F.




60°F.



• Mass: The Earth is 9.3 times more massive than Mars.


60°F.



• Mass: The Earth is 9.3 times more massive than 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.











• Distance to sun: 228 million km.

Jupiter:

Jupiter:• Temperature range: -163°C to -

121°C.


121°C.

• Rotation time: 9 hours 55 minutes Earth time.


121°C.


• Orbit: 12 Earth years


121°C.



• Mass: 318 times more massive than the Earth.


121°C.




• Diameter: 85,788 miles

Jupiter:• Moons: 63 have been found with

Ganymede the largest (bigger than Mercury and Pluto).



• Water: yes



• Water: yes

• Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and Helium (10%).



• Water: yes

• Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and Helium (10%).

• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs 236.4 pounds here.



• Water: yes• Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and

Helium (10%).• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth

weighs 236.4 pounds here.• Discovered: Known since ancient

times.



• 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


• Rotation time: 10 hours, 40 minutes, and 24 seconds Earth time



• Orbit: 29.5 Earth years









• Diameter: 120,660 km (about 10 times larger than the Earth)

Saturn:• Moons: 31 including Titan, Hyperion,

Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe



• Water: yes



• Water: yes

• Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen and Helium with some Methane and ammonia.



• Water: yes


• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs 106.4 pounds on Saturn.



• Water: yes





Mimas, Rhea, and Phoebe• Water: yes• Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen and

Helium with some Methane and ammonia.




Uranus:

Uranus:• Temperature range: -197.15°C


• Rotation time: 17.24 hours Earth time (rotates clockwise)







• Mass: 14.5 times more massive than the Earth.






Uranus:• Moons: 27


• Water: yes


• Water: yes

• Atmosphere: 83% Hydrogen, 15% Helium, 2% Methane, and trace amounts of water and ammonia.


• Water: yes


• 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.


• Discovered: Sighted in 1690 but figured out it was a planet in 1781.


• Water: yes



• Discovered: Sighted in 1690 but figured out it was a planet in 1781.


Neptune:

Neptune:• Temperature range: -220°C


• Rotation time: 0.67 Earth days













Neptune:• Moons: 8 known


• Water: yes


• Water: yes

• Atmosphere: 74% Hydrogen, 25% Helium, and 1% Methane


• Water: yes


• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs 112.5 pounds on Neptune.


• Water: yes



• Discovered: Found in 1846.


• Water: yes





Pluto:

Pluto:• Temperature range: -233°C





• Orbit: 248 Earth years.




• Mass: 0.002 times that of Earth.




• Mass: 0.002 times that of Earth.


Pluto:• Moons: One moon called Charon.


• Water: Unknown


• Water: Unknown

• Atmosphere: A frozen atmosphere that melts and refreezes.


• Water: Unknown


• Gravity: 100 pounds on Earth weighs 6.7 pounds on Pluto.


• Water: Unknown





• Water: Unknown





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Sun, Moon, Earth,