Hubble Space TelescopeDeep Field View

Milky Way Galaxy

Typical Spiral Galaxy

Keyhole Nebula

Another Nebula in the Milky Way

Etacar Nebula

Crab Nebula

Horse Head Nebula

SunGreek-HeliosLatin-Sol

Sun Spots

Earth

The Planets

Relative Sizes of the Planets

Terrestrial Planets

Jovian Planets

Pluto

MercuryVenusEarthMarsJupiter

SaturnUranusNeptune

The Terrestrial (like Earth)

PlanetsMercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Small, rocky / metallic

Thin atmospheres or no atmosphere

Few, if any, moons

Near the Sun (inner planets)

Mercury

Day Time Side600°F

Night Time Side-300°F

Extensive crateringlike the moon

Nearest the sun…fastest moving

Orbital Period = 88 Earth days

No atmosphere or moons

Closer view of craters on Mercury

Venus

Thick cloud coverobscures the surface

High CO2 levels create extreme Greenhouse Effect

Surface temperature > 900°F

Retrograde rotation,Sun rises in the west

Rotation Period = 243 Earth days

Orbital Period = 225 Earth days

No moons

“Day” is longer than a “Year”!

Radar Topographical Mapof the surface of Venus

Closer view of Venusian surface features

Low areas, like ocean basins on the Earth

Coastal plains

Mountainsmany are volcanic

Earth

Ocean basins

Continents

Earth and Moon seen together

Mars

Phobos"fear"

Deimos"panic"

Valles Marineris

Valles Marineris

2500 miles4.5 miles deep

Grand Canyon:270 miles long, 1 mile deep

Olympus Mons"Mount Olympus"

Extinct VolcanoHighest mountain in the Solar System

Olympus Mons

17 miles highMt. Everest is 5 miles high

350 miles wide

Close up view of Martian surface

Evidence of ancient water on the Martian surface

River System with Delta

Features on the Martian surface that have caused “wild”

conjecture concerning the habitation of Mars

Face?

Smiley Face?

Heart?