Film title: Rocky planets
Our Solar System is a magnificent group of planets that circle, or orbit, a star called the Sun.
Sun
There are eight planets in our solar system.
Solar System
They vary enormously in size and appearance.
The four closest to the Sun are called the rocky planets, because they are mostly made of rock and metal.
Rocky Planets
Mercury is the closest to the Sun.
average distance from the Sun
58,000,000 km
Mercury
It's the smallest planet in our Solar System, but very heavy for its size, because it's mostly made up of iron.
Mercury has the greatest temperature variation of any planet.
iron
At nighttime, temperatures drop to –180°C.
–180°C
But soar to 450°C during the day.
450°C
Venus is next in line.
average distance from Sun
108,000,000km
Venus
There is virtually no water on Venus, because of the extreme heat.
Its surface is covered in volcanoes that are continually erupting.
Venus spins east to west, the opposite direction to all the other planets.
Venus is the closest planet to Earth.
average distance from the Sun
150,000,000km
Earth
Our planet is mostly covered in water and the weather on Earth is the most unpredictable in the Solar System.
Amazingly, it is the only planet known to have life.
Mars is the last of the rocky planets.
average distance from the Sun
280,000,000km
Mars
It is known as the 'red planet', because of the colour of its dust,
Mars has the most extreme landscape in the whole Solar System.
It has a huge volcano that is twice the size of Mount Everest and a canyon that is so long that it would take over two days to drive its length.
Robots have been looking for signs of life on Mars...
And scientists are investigating if the red planet could one day be home to humans.
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Sun
There are eight planets in our solar system.
Solar System
They vary enormously in size and appearance.
The four closest to the Sun are called the rocky planets, because they are mostly made of rock and metal.
Rocky Planets
Mercury is the closest to the Sun.
average distance from the Sun
58,000,000 km
Mercury
It's the smallest planet in our Solar System, but very heavy for its size, because it's mostly made up of iron.
Mercury has the greatest temperature variation of any planet.
iron
At nighttime, temperatures drop to –180°C.
–180°C
But soar to 450°C during the day.
450°C
Venus is next in line.
average distance from Sun
108,000,000km
Venus
There is virtually no water on Venus, because of the extreme heat.
Its surface is covered in volcanoes that are continually erupting.
Venus spins east to west, the opposite direction to all the other planets.
Venus is the closest planet to Earth.
average distance from the Sun
150,000,000km
Earth
Our planet is mostly covered in water and the weather on Earth is the most unpredictable in the Solar System.
Amazingly, it is the only planet known to have life.
Mars is the last of the rocky planets.
average distance from the Sun
280,000,000km
Mars
It is known as the 'red planet', because of the colour of its dust,
Mars has the most extreme landscape in the whole Solar System.
It has a huge volcano that is twice the size of Mount Everest and a canyon that is so long that it would take over two days to drive its length.
Robots have been looking for signs of life on Mars...
And scientists are investigating if the red planet could one day be home to humans.
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Adventure around our solar system and explore the four rocky planets.
Learning points
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