Terrestrial Planets

Terrestrial Planets

​What are Terrestrial Planets?

Terrestrial planets are also called inner planets, and they are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Terrestrial planets are rocky planets characterized by their solid surfaces and dense compositions

• Closest to the Sun

• Surface covered with craters
  

​​Mercury

• ​Second closest to the sun

• Rocky surface

​​Venus

• ​Third planet from the sun

• Features diverse landscapes
  

​​Earth

• Fourth from the sun

• Also known as the Red planet

​​Mars

• The closest planet to the Sun

• Surface covered with craters

• Mercury has a large metallic core

• Core is surrounded by a silicate mantle and crust

• Very thin atmosphere

• Temperatures can reach 430°C
  
  

​Mercury

• Second planet from the Sun

• Rocky surface

• Numerous volcanoes, some of which may still be active

• Atmosphere is extremely thick

• Hottest planet in the solar system (467°C​)

​Venus

• Third planet from the Sun

• About 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water

• Earth features diverse landscapes

• Earth is composed of several layers

• Atmosphere plays a critical role in weather patterns and climate

Earth

• Mars the "Red Planet," is the fourth planet from the Sun

• Iron oxide (rust)

• Diverse terrain

• Thin atmosphere

• Average temperature: -62°C, can reach -125°C

​

​Mars

​Fun Facts

Mercury - Because of its slow rotation relative to its orbit, a single day on Mercury (sunrise to sunrise) lasts about 176 Earth days.

Venus - often called the "Evening Star" or "Morning Star" because of its brightness, which is due to sunlight reflecting off its thick cloud cover.

Earth - Earth has a protective magnetic field generated by its liquid outer core, which shields the planet from solar and cosmic radiation.

Mars - Mars has long been a target in the search for extraterrestrial life but no definitive evidence of life has been found