Planets of the Solar System!

Mercury

 

 

Mercury doesn't have atmosphere, which means that all the rays are able to go into the planet. Mercury is named after the messenger of Roman Gods. Mercury is the smallest planet in the Solar System. A year in Mercury is 88 Earth days long. It is also the most cratered planet in the Solar System. Only two spacecraft have ever visited Mercury, owing to its proximity to the Sun, Mercury is a difficult planet to visit. During 1974 and 1975 Mariner 10 flew by Mercury three times, during this time they mapped just under half of the planet’s surface.

 

 

 

 

     

Venus

The atmosphere of Venus made up mainly of carbon dioxide.

Its size is slightly smaller than Earth. It also features gravity similar to that of Earth. Venus is surrounded by clouds consisting of mercury, ferric chloride hydrocarbons and sulphuric acid. These clouds create the most corrosive acid rain found anywhere in our solar system. The clouds are so thick that little light even reaches the surface. The light that does reach the surface is converted to heat and can not escape the atmosphere making Venus the hottest planet at around 500 Degrees Celsius.The surface of Venus is often described as a "stormy desert" full of many craters and very active volcanoes. The surface is also likened to molten lead. Venus features no liquid water.

Mars

Mars, or the 'Red Planet' as it is sometimes known, has a dusty, rocky surface and a thin atmosphere. Its relatively calm conditions and close proximity to earth make it the most likely destination for future planet exploration by humans.

It has already been visited by a number of Mars Rovers in successful (and unsuccessful) robotic missions. These highly advanced robots gather samples and record important scientific data for scientists back on Earth to study.

Mars experiences violent dust storms which continually change its surface. Mars has many massive volcanoes and is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in our solar system, it stands 21km high and is 600km across the base. Mars has a very thin atmosphere made mostly of carbon dioxide. It is not thick enough to trap the sun's heat like Venus, so the planet is very cold.   Mars has very weak gravity which cannot hold onto the atmosphere well. The polar ice caps consist of frozen Co2 (dry ice) which lies over a layer of ice.

 

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. Its famous 'Red Spot' and raging gas storms give it an impressive if not intimidating appearance. As well as having many moons, Jupiter also has a number of rings similar to that of Saturn but much less noticeable.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar system. It is so big that more than 1300 Earths could fit inside it. Thick, colorful clouds of deadly poisonous gases surround Jupiter. The quick spinning of the planet whips up the atmosphere, creating the bands around the planet. If you were to descend into Jupiter, the thin, cold atmosphere becomes thicker and hotter, gradually turning into a thick, dark fog. It's been raging for over three hundred years. Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field, you would weigh two and a half times as much as you would on Earth. Jupiter has many moons circling around it. Four of these moons are bigger than Pluto.

 

Saturn

Perhaps the most beautiful planet in our solar system (other than earth of course) due to its spectacular ring system, Saturn is a gas giant that features many extreme physical features and atmospheric conditions. Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system and is another gas giant. Saturn has a small rocky core covered with liquid gas. It is surrounded by a system of rings that stretch out into space for thousands of kilometres. The rings are made up of millions of ice crystals, some as big as houses and others as small as specks of dust. Saturn is very light as it is made up of more hydrogen than helium so it is less dense. If we could fit Saturn into a bathtub it would float (but that would have to be one big bathtub!)  Like Jupiter, Saturn has many moons which surround it. Saturn is not a peaceful planet.  Storm winds race around the atmosphere at 800kmp/h. Saturn has a very strong magnetic field which traps energy particles resulting in high levels of radiation.