The Inner Planets

The terrestrial planetsThe terrestrial planets

1.Mercury 2. Venus 3. Earth 4.Mars

Similarities

1) Rocky planets with Iron cores

2) Have impact cratersfrom Meteors & Asteroids

Mercury

• 88 earth days = 1 mercury year• No moons• Explored by “Mariner 10 “ in the 70’s

Venus• 225 earth days = 1 venus year

• Rotates backwards

• No moons

• Dense atmosphere

• Runaway “greenhouse effect”

• Explored by Magellan orbiter in the 90’s

Earth• Only Planet known to have liquid water

Mars• 687 earth days = 1 Mars year

• 2 moons

• Olympus Mons largest volcano in solar system

• Explored by Viking 1 and 2 & the Rover Missions