Planets of the Solar System

R O N G R O N G J I A N
 Mercury

Source of image: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mercury/in-depth/

Composition of Mercury

• It is estimated that Mercury is composed of 70% metal, thus its density.

• The planet is made out of mostly metals, (iron and nickel), with hints of silica rocks as it is a terrestrial
planet.

• Mercury’s atmosphere is mostly oxygen, with amounts of sodium, hydrogen, helium, and potassium.
Interesting Facts:

Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. :
0.39 or 57,900,000 kilometres.
Number of Moons Orbiting Mercury :
0 Moons.
• Despite Mercury being the closest planet to the Sun, it is not the hottest
planet in the Solar System, Venus is. This is because Venus’ atmosphere
is full of carbon dioxide and sulphuric acid, which causes greenhouse
effect, trapping in more heat than Mercury.
• Years on Mercury goes faster than on Earth because it takes less time to
orbit the Sun as it is the closest planet to the Sun.
 Venus

Image source: https://wallpapersafari.com/w/ol9kc4

 Composition of Venus
• Venus is a terrestrial planet, its whole body is “rocky”, and its whole body is mostly made of either metals or silicate rocks.

• Its core is made of metal--iron and nickel, and it has a rock mantle.

• Venus’s atmosphere is made of 96% carbon dioxide, with other elements such as nitrogen and sulphuric acid present. The
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes greenhouse effect and traps heat.

Number of Moons Orbiting Venus :

0 Moons.
Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. :
0.72 or 108,200,000 kilometres.

Interesting Facts:

• The pressure on Venus is similar to the

pressure you experience 1.6km under the
ocean on Earth.

• Venus was the first to be explored by

spacecraft, this happened in 1962.
Earth

Image source: https://theconversation.com/amp/earth-has-stayed-habitable-for-billions-of-years-just-how-lucky-did-we-get-153416

Composition of Earth Interesting Facts:

• Earth is a terrestrial planet • The origin of the

word “Earth” was
• The atmosphere of Earth is confirmed to be mostly made of nitrogen and oxygen. related to
Germans.
• The core is made of nickel and iron, the mantle is made of rock and minerals.
• Earth is
• The crust of Earth is made of mostly oxygen, silicon, aluminium and iron. radioactive, half of
its emission comes
from radioactive
Number of Moons Orbiting Earth :
decay in the core.
1 Moon.
Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. :
1, or 149,600,000 kilometres.
 Mars
Image source:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-03-17/mars-water-oceans-crust-atmosphere-space-ice-minerals/13253028
Composition of Mars Interesting Facts:
• The origin of
“Martians”, belief
• Mars’ crust is made of iron, magnesium, aluminium, calcium and potassium. of aliens residing
on Mars,
• Mars’ atmosphere is mainly made of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon gases.
originated from
• Mars is made of rock, overall. 1800s.

• Mars is named
after the Roman
Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. : God of War.
1.52, or 227,900,000 kilometres.

Number of Moons Orbiting Mars :

2 Moons.
 Jupiter
Image source: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-jupiter-made-of.html
Composition of Jupiter
• Jupiter is a gas giant, it is made of gas and dust.

• Jupiter’s rings are made of dust, its atmosphere is made of hydrogen and helium.

• The core of this planet is likely made of iron and silicate minerals.

• Jupiter’s composition is similar to the Sun’s, it is mostly made of hydrogen and helium.

• NASA believes that the clouds of Jupiter are formed from ammonia ice, ammonium hydrosulphide crystals and vapour.

Number of Moons Orbiting Jupiter :

53 Moons confirmed, it is believed there are 79 moons orbiting Jupiter.

Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. :

5.2, or 778,600,000 kilometres.

Interesting Facts:
• If Jupiter was 80 times larger than it is, it would have formed a star.
• Diamond rain exists on Jupiter because the amount of pressure and heat is able to turn
carbon from the air into diamonds.
Saturn
 Composition of Saturn
• Saturn is a Jovian planet, mostly made of hydrogen and helium.

• Saturn’s core is made of metals, which is surrounded by compounds and rock debris.

• The rings of Saturn are believed to be the remains of comets or asteroids which lost to Saturn’s
gravity and became floating ice, dust and rocks.
Number of Moons Orbiting Saturn :
53 Moons confirmed to be orbiting Saturn, believed to be 82 Moons orbiting.

Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. :

9.54, or 1,433,500,000 kilometres.
Interesting Facts:
• Theoretically, Saturn can float on water as it is made mostly of gas.
• Saturday was named after the planet Saturn.
Uranus
Image source: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/planet-uranus
Composition of Uranus
• Uranus consists of ice and flowing fluids such as ammonia, methane and water.

• Its core is made of rocks.

• Uranus’ atmosphere consists of hydrogen molecules and helium atoms with traces of methane.

Number of Moons Orbiting Uranus : Interesting Facts:

27 Moons. • The element Uranium was named after
Uranus in 1789.

• The planet was attempted to be named King

George III, however the scientists decide
Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. : they should name it after Uranus, God of the
19.2, or 2,872,500,000 kilometres. Sky.
 Neptune
Image source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2019/08/29/its-time-we-went-back-to-neptune-nasas-photos-are-30-years-old/?sh=2ee223c01e7c
Composition of Neptune
• Neptune is made of hot, flowing substance of water, methane, and ammonia.

• The core of Neptune is made of rock.

Number of Moons Orbiting Neptune :

14 Moons.
Mean Distance from the Sun in A.U. :
30.06, or 4,495,100,000 kilometres.

Interesting Facts:
• Neptune was the first planet to be
discovered through mathematics.

• Neptune was named after the Roman God

of Sea.
Scaled diagram
• Sorry Sir, I did this on my computer, the scale is accurate though.
References
• NASA Science. (2019, February 21). In Depth | Moons – NASA Solar System Exploration. NASA Solar System
Exploration.

• Enchanted Learning (2018). Enchantedlearning.com. Retrieved from

https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/

• Universe Today. (2015, December 23). Interesting Facts About The Planets. Retrieved from Universe Today
website: https://www.universetoday.com/33415/interesting-facts-about-the-planets/

• Build a Solar System Model | Exploratorium. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/

• Space.com.(2017, February). How Did the Solar System Form? Retrieved from

https://www.space.com/35526-solar-system-formation.html