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Essay on Terrestrial and Jovian Planets

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Terrestrial and Jovian Planets

Our solar system contains nine planets, which are broken down into 2 classifications known as terrestrial planets and jovian planets. The terrestrial planets are composed primarily of rock and metal. They also generally have high densities, slow rotation, solid surfaces, no rings, and few satellites. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. On the other hand, the jovian planets are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. They generally have low densities, rapid rotation, deep atmospheres, rings, and numerous satellites. These planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
The closest terrestrial planet to the sun is Mercury. Mercury is relatively small, and technically the …show more content…

Venus is usually visible to the naked eye. Being the brightest star in the sky makes Venus easily seen on starry nights.
The next terrestrial planet, and third planet from the Sun, is our Earth. Earth is the only planet whose English name does not derive from Greek or Roman mythology. Earth is the densest major body in the solar system. Unlike the other terrestrial planets, Earth is divided into solid plates that float around independently on top of the hot mantle. There are eight major plates and twenty or so smaller plates. Seventy-one percent of the Earth is made of water. Earth happens to be the only planet on which water can exist as a liquid form on the surface. The Earth’s atmosphere is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and has traces of argon, carbon dioxide, and water. Earth is the only planet with human life, and as a result, this is planet is our home.
The last terrestrial planet, and fourth planet from the Sun, is Mars. Mars is a fairly small planet, and as a result is the seventh largest of all the planets. Mars is commonly referred to as the Red Planet, due to its red color. The first spacecraft to visit Mars was the Mariner 4 in 1965. Several others closely followed including the Mariner 2, Viking, and Mars Pathfinder. Mars has a very thin atmosphere composed of 95.3% carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen, and 1.6% argon. Mars thin atmosphere also produces a greenhouse effect, however it only raises the temperature slightly. When it is nighttime, Mars is

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