The Nine Planets in Our Solar System - Summaries | Print |
Suggested links for research:

- Nine Planets
- NASA Planet Profiles

MERCURY

Named by early Romans after the messenger of their gods.
Rotation: 59days
Revolution: 88days
Atmosphere: Helium, oxygen, hydrogen
Temperature: -193?C to 342?C
Diameter: 4,878 KM
Distance from the Sun (avg): 57.9 mil km
Number of Moons: 0

VENUS

Named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love.
Rotation: 17hr, 50min
Revolution: 165yrs
Atmosphere: Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, water vapor, sulfur dioxide.
Temperature: 455?C
Diameter: 12,100 KM
Distance from the Sun (avg): 108.2 mil km
Number of Moons: 0


EARTH

Our home planet, The third planet from the sun.
Rotation: 23hr, 56min, 4.09053 seconds.
Revolution: 365.256days
Atmosphere: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, helium, neon.
Temperature: -89?C to 58?C
Diameter: 13,000 km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 149.6 mil km
Number of Moons: 1


MARS

The name derives from the Roman god of war.
Rotation: 24.66hr
Revolution: 687yrs
Atmosphere: Predominantly carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor, some oxygen, traces of carbon monoxide, neon, and others.
Temperature: -124?C to -31?C
Diameter: 6,790 km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 227.9 mil km
Number of Moons: 2

JUPITER

The romans named this planet after the king of their gods.
Rotation: 9hr, 55min
Revolution: 11.86yrs
Atmosphere: 90% Hydrogen, 10% helium, trace amounts of methane, ammonia, water.
Temperature: -149?C
Diameter: 147,700 km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 778.3 mil km
Number of Moons: 16 and 23 smaller satellites


SATURN

The romans named this planet after their god of agriculture.
Rotation: 10hr, 39min
Atmosphere: 91% hydrogen, 6% helium, methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, water and more.
Temperature: -176?C
Diameter: 120,563 km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 1,429 mil km
Number of Moons: 20

URANUS

Named after the roman and greek god of sky.
Rotation: 17hr
Revolution: 84yrs
Atmosphere: Methane ice, hydrogen, helium.
Temperature: -216?C
Diameter: 51,118 km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 2,875 mil km
Number of Moons: 20


NEPTUNE

The romans named this planet after their god of the sea.
Rotation: 17hr, 50min
Revolution: 165yrs
Atmosphere: Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, Ethane.
Temperature: -230?C
Diameter: 48,591.8 km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 4,504 mil km
Number of Moons: 8

PLUTO

Named after the greek god of the underworld.
Rotation: 6days, 9hrs, 18mins
Revolution: 248yrs
Atmosphere: Nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide.
Temperature: -225?C
Diameter: 2,345 km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 5,900 mil km
Number of Moons: 1

THE SUN

The central controlling body of our solar system.
Rotation: 30days
Revolution: Stationary
Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen, helium.
Temperature: 5,500?C
Diameter: 1,392 mil km
Distance from the Sun (avg): 149.6 mil km
Number of Moons: 0