Guardian Planets

Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and was named for the god Mercury. It has a diameter 4878 km. It takes 87.97 Earth days for Mercury to revolve around the sun. The temperature on Mercury ranges from 90 K to 700 K. Its atmosphere has traces of hydrogen and helium. Mercury has no moons

Venus
Venus is the second planet from the sun and the sixth largest. It is the brightest object in th sky besides the Sun and Moon, and was named for the goddess Venus. It has a diameter of 12, 103.6 km. There are 243 Earth days in one Venus day. Venus is sometimes called Earth's twin because it has 95% of Earth's diameter and 80% of its mass. They both have similar densities and chemical compositions. The atmosphere on Venus is mostly made of carbon dioxide. Venus has no moons

Earth
Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest. Earth is the only planet not named after a figure from Greek/Roman mythology. The Earth has a diameter of 12,756.3 km. Earth is the only known planet with life. 71% of Earth's surface is covered with water. The atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other. The Earth has one moon

Moon
The Moon is the only satellite of Earth. It has a diameter of 3476 km. It has no atmosphere and no magentic field. The Moon is the only place in the solar system to be walked on by humans (besides the Earth of course). The Moon is the second brightest object in the sky, behind the Sun.

Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the seventh largest. It was named for the god Mars. It has a diameter of 6,794 km. Its atmosphere is mostly composed of carbon dioxide. Mars has two moons, Phobos and Demios

Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun and the largest. It was named for the god Jupiter. The planet is about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium. Jupiter has many wind storms, the most famous being the Great Red Spot. Jupiter has rings and a huge magentic field surrounding it. Jupiter has 16 moons

Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and the second largest. It was named after the god Saturn. It has a diameter of 120,536 km. Saturn is the least dense of the planets. Saturn is about 75% hydrogen and 25% helium. Saturn is famous for its rings that suuround the planet. Saturn has 18 moons

Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun and is the third largest. It was named for the god Uranus and has a diameter 51,118 km. It was discovered in 1781 but wasn't officially called Uranus until 1850. Uranus' atmosphere is mostly hydrogen. Uranus has 21 moons.

Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet and the fourth largest. It was named for the god Neptune and has a diameter of 49,532 km. The atmosphere is mostly composed of hydrogen and helium. Neptune has wind storms, including one aclled the Great Dark Spot. Neptune and Pluto sometimes change orbits making Neptune farthest from the sun for a few years. Neptune has eight moons.

Pluto
Pluto is the farthest planet from the sun and the smallest. It is named for the god Pluto and has a diameter of 2274 km. Pluto was discovered in 1930. Pluto sometimes switches orbits with Neptune making it the eighth planet from the sun for a few years. Pluto has one moon.

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