What is the difference between an inner planet and an outer planet?

Inner planets and outer planets are two distinct categories of planets in our solar system. The four inner planets of our solar system are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are known as terrestrial or rocky planets because they are made up of mostly rock and metal.

On the other hand, the four outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - are called gas giants because they are composed mostly of hydrogen and helium gas, and are much larger in size than the inner planets. They also have rings around them, while the inner planets do not.

The inner planets are closer to the sun and have shorter orbital periods than the outer planets. The outer planets are located beyond the asteroid belt, while the inner planets are located within the asteroid belt.

The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are also called the terrestrial planets because they have solid surfaces. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are sometimes called gas, ice giants, or even Jovian planets because they are mainly made of gas and do not have a solid surface.

Here are some of the key differences between inner and outer planets:

• Distance from the Sun: The inner planets are closer to the Sun than the outer planets. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, followed by Venus, Earth, and Mars. Jupiter is the farthest planet from the Sun, followed by Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
• Size: The inner planets are smaller than the outer planets. Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, followed by Venus, Earth, and Mars. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, followed by Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
• Composition: The inner planets are made of rock and metal, while the outer planets are made of gas and ice. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars all have solid surfaces, while Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune do not.
• Atmosphere: The inner planets have thin atmospheres, while the outer planets have thick atmospheres. Mercury and Venus have no atmosphere at all, while Earth's atmosphere is mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Jupiter's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium, while Saturn's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium with some ammonia and methane. Uranus' atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium with some methane and ammonia, while Neptune's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium with some methane and ammonia.
• Moons: The inner planets have few or no moons, while the outer planets have many moons. Mercury and Venus have no moons, while Earth has one moon, Mars has two moons, Jupiter has 79 moons, Saturn has 82 moons, Uranus has 27 moons, and Neptune has 14 moons.
• Rings: The inner planets do not have rings, while the outer planets have rings. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have rings made of dust and small particles.