The Inner Planets. The terrestrial planets 1.Mercury 2. Venus 3. Earth 4.Mars.

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