Planets of the Earth group Solar system > Planets of the Solar system > Planets of the Earth group
There are four Terrestrial planets in our Solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
The planets of the Terrestrial group of our Solar system are also known as inner planets, because these planets are closest to the Sun.
The planets of the Earth group are also called rocky planets.
They differ from gas giants in many parameters.
According to the International Astronomical Union, which sets definitions for planetary science, a planet of the Earth group is a celestial body that: Has few or no satellites at all; has a weak magnetic field; has a close orbit with respect to another planet of the Earth group; does not have a ring system.
Planets of the Earth group
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
The planets of the Earth group have a number of common features.
All of them consist mainly of rocks and heavy metals.
These planets have a core of heavy metals, mainly iron.
The planets of the Earth group are much smaller than the gas giants.
The planets of the Earth group also have a changing landscape, for example, volcanoes, canyons, mountains and craters.
Another common feature among the planets of the Earth group: they have very few or no satellites at all.
Mercury and Venus have no satellites at all, Earth has one, Mars has two tiny satellites.
In addition, the planets of the Earth group do not have planetary rings.
The atmosphere of the planets can vary from the thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide in Venus to the almost complete absence of such in Mercury.
The structure of the planets of the Earth group
Graphical representation of the distance from the Sun to each of the planets of the Earth group
References Planets of the Solar system Dwarf planets Planets of the Earth group
Pluto * Ceres · Haumea · Makemake · Eris Mercury · Venus · Earth · Mars
Gas Giants
Jupiter · Saturn · Uranus · Neptune
The Solar System
