Share The Planets
Save to Folder
Who was Mercury named after?
Mercurius, a Roman god
Why was Mercury named after Mercurius?
Mercurius was a messenger god. He moves around quickly and Mercury moves around the Sun the quickest.
What is the temperature on Mercury during the day and night?
450°C in day and -180°C at night
What is at the centre of Mercury?
A huge iron core
Why is Venus named Venus?
It is the brightest object in the sky and one of the most beautiful, so it was named after the goddess of love.
Why can't we see the surface of Venus?
It has very thick clouds.
What do we use to detect volcanoes on the surface of Venus?
Radar
Which planet is not named after a god or goddess?
Earth
What does Earth mean in Old English?
The ground
What conditions are believed to be needed for planet need to sustain life?
Oxygen, water, and a warm/cool enough temperature.
Why is Mars red?
Rust in its soil
Why was Mars given its name?
People associated its red colour with blood and war, so they named it after the Roman god of war.
What do some people suspect about Mars?
They may have been some primitive life forms in the past.
How much wider is Jupiter than Earth?
11 times
Why was Jupiter given its name?
Due to its size it was named after the Roman supreme god.
Who discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter?
Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer, in 1610.
