Our Solar System

Consists of:
 Sun
 Eight planets and their moons

 The dwarf planets

The planets are all unique and differ in terms of

their:
– Size (volume)
– Surface temperature
– Chemical elements (e.g. H2, He, O2 and C)
– Gravitational field strength (surface gravity)
 The Inner (Terrestrial) Planets
The four planets closest to the sun are:
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

Characteristically they are:

– Small
– High in density
– Mainly composed of rocks/metals
The Inner (Terrestrial) Planets

Mercury Venus

Earth Mars
The Outer Planets (Gas Giants)
The four planets farthest from the sun are:
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune

Characteristically they are:

– Large
– Low in density
– Mainly composed of gases such as hydrogen
and helium
– Separated from the inner planets by the
asteroid belt.
The Outer (Gas Giant) Planets

Jupiter Saturn

Uranus Neptune
 Dwarf Planets
The big difference between a dwarf planet and a regular
planet is that:
– A dwarf planet’s path around the sun is full of other objects
like asteroids and comets whereas a regular planet has a
clear path

Pluto
Due to its strange orbit and tiny size astronomers
questioned whether it should be considered a planet. A
decision was made to reclassify Pluto to a dwarf planet
in 2006.
 The Dwarf Planets
Ceres, Eris,
MakeMake & Haumea
Eris Ceres Pluto Ceres (formally an asteroid and
still found in the asteroid belt),
Eris, MakeMake & Haumea are
also dwarf planets. They are
different from planets because
they are not big enough to clear
their orbits and thus orbit with a
lot of other debris.