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Unit 8
The Terrestrial Planets Notes
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| terrestrial planets | the four small, dense, rocky planets that orbit closest to the sun. |
| 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. |
| Mars Facts: | Fourth planet from the sun, prograde rotation, has the largest volcano in the solar system (Olympus Mons). |