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