Planet Data

11.6 - Understand the following principal characteristics of the planets:
a) relative size
b) relative mass
c) surface temperature
d) atmospheric composition
e) presence of satellites
f) presence of ring systems

Compare the various characteristics of the planets. More data is available on the second tab just for fun. Here you can view relative size, relative mass, surface temperature, atmospheric composition, presence of satellites, and presence of ring systems.

Characteristics More Data

Descriptions of Planet Data
Planet	Diameter (km)	Relative Size	Relative Mass	Surface Temperature	Atmospheric Composition	Satellites	Ring Systems
Mercury	4,900	0.383	0.0553	127°C*	None	0	None
Venus	12,100	0.949	0.815	480 °C	Thick atmosphere 96% Carbon Dioxide, 3.5% Nitrogen, Sulphuric acid	0	None
Earth	12,750	1	1	14 °C	Medium atmosphere 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen	1	None
Mars	6,800	0.532	0.107	-63 °C	Thin atmosphere 95% Carbon Dioxide 3% Nitrogen	2	None
Jupiter	142,800	11.21	317.8	-130 °C	90% Hydrogen 10% Helium	63	Thin
Saturn	120,000	9.45	95.2	-130 °C	96% Hydrogen 4% Helium	60	Substantial
Uranus	51,000	4.01	14.5	-200 °C	83% Hydrogen 15% Helium 2% Methane	27	Thin
Neptune	49,500	3.88	17.1	-200 °C	79% Hydrogen 18% Helium 3% Methane	13	Thin

*Mercury surface temperatures range from -183°C to 427°C
Also note that small moons of Jupiter and Saturn have continued to be discovered in recent years and may do so again in the future.

Descriptions of Planet Data
Planet	Rotation (Day)	Tilt of Axis	Gravity (Earth =1)	Surface Features	Composition
Mercury	58 days	0°	0.38	Craters and cracks, similar to the Moon.	Thick rock crust. Large iron core produces a small magnetic field.
Venus	243 days	177°	0.90	Geologically young Evidence of volcanic structures.	Not possible to view surface visually due to 100% cloud cover
Earth	23h,56m,4s	23.5°	1	71 % Water. Geologically active. Thin crust. Life exists.	Crust movement through plate tectonics. Inner and Outer Core. Produces a magnetic field.
Mars	24h, 38m	25°	0.38	Active weather system but geologically extinct. Thick crust. Indications of flowing water in the past.	Low density core. Largest mountains and canyons in the Solar System.
Jupiter	9h, 50m	3°	2.69	Gas giants have no solid surface. Bands of clouds visible. Very thin ring system.	Largest planet. Could contain all the other planets within it. Red spot is an Earth -sized storm. Flattened sphere due to fast rotation.
Saturn	10h 14m	26.5°	1.19	Gas giant. Extensive rings around planet.	Low density means it could float in water.
Uranus	17h 55m	97.5°	0.889	Green gas giant. Few features visible. Dark ring system.	Small Ice-Rock core. Has an inclined axis and so appears to orbit on its side.
Neptune	19h, 10m	29°	1.125	Blue Gas giant. Thin clouds, small storms visible. Very thin ring system.	Small Ice-Rock core. Internal heat source.