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Science Notes
The Terrestrial Planets Notes
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| terrestrial planets | the four small, dense, rocky planets that orbit closest to the sun. |
| All terrestrial planets have similar | compositions and consist of an outer crust, central core, and a mantle that lies between the crust and core. |
| One astronomical unit | (AU for short) equals the average distance between the sun and Earth (about 150 million kilometers). |
| Prograde rotation | the counterclockwise spin of a planet about its axis as seen from above the planet’s north pole. |
| Retrograde rotation | the clockwise spin of a planet about its axis as seen from above its north pole. |
| Mercury Facts | First planet from the sun. Smallest planet in the solar system. Prograde rotation |
| Venus Facts | Second planet from the sun. Retrograde rotation. Has many volcanoes and craters. |
| Earth Facts | Third planet from the sun. Prograde rotation. Has volcanoes. |