Our+Planets+(additional+info)

ROT P = rotation period (number of Earth days the planet rotates on its axis)
=MERCURY=
 * smallest planet; about the same size as OUR moon
 * has very thin atmosphere
 * ASD = 58 million kilometers or 37 million miles
 * Rev P = 88 Earth days
 * Rot P = 59 Earth days

=VENUS=
 * Earth's twin
 * very hot;
 * has thick rapidly spinning clouds that cover its surface; these clouds hold the heat in & reflect sunlight
 * very unusual because it ROTATES in the OPPOSITE direction of all the other planets
 * ASD = 108 million kilometers or 67 million miles
 * Rev P = 225 Earth days
 * Rot P = 243 Earth days

=EARTH=
 * ASD = 152 million kilometers or 94 million miles
 * Rev P = 365 days
 * Rot P = 24 hours

=MARS=
 * Red planet; very rich in IRON that gives it its red color
 * has craters, volcanoes & valleys; very cold temperature
 * ASD = 228 million kilometers or 141 million miles
 * Rev P = 687 Earth days
 * Rot P = 25 hours

=JUPITER=
 * largest planet, that ALL other planets can fit inside
 * made up mostly of hydrogen & helium gases whose clouds change colors daily
 * has thin rings around it
 * ASD = 778 million kilometers or 483 million miles
 * Rev P = 12 Earth years
 * Rot P = 10 Earth hours

=SATURN=
 * the Ringed planet; surrounded by over 1000 rings made of ice and dust
 * has at least 52 moons; some of these moons orbit the planet within the rings
 * ASD = 1.5 billion kilometers or 1 billion miles
 * Rev P = 29 Earth years
 * Rot P = 11 Earth hours

=URANUS=
 * Neptune's twin
 * very cold temperature
 * made up of hydrogen, helium & methane; the cold methane gas gives it its blue green color
 * has 11 rings and 27 moons
 * ASD = 2.9 billion kilometers or 1.1 billion miles
 * Rev P = 84 Earth years
 * Rot P = 17 Earth hours

=NEPTUNE=
 * Blue planet; very much like Uranus
 * has 2 thick and 2 thin rings
 * has 13 moons
 * ASD = 4.5 billion kilometers or 2.1 billion miles
 * Rev P = 165 Earth years
 * Rot P = 16 Earth hours