Terrestrial planet

What is a Terrestrial Planet?

A terrestrial planet is a special kind of planet that is made mostly of rock and metal. These planets have solid surfaces, just like Earth. They are sometimes called rocky planets or tellurian planets.

Our Solar System’s Terrestrial Planets

In our Solar System, there are four terrestrial planets close to the Sun. They are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These planets are different from the bigger planets, which are filled with gas.

Why We Study Them

Scientists study terrestrial planets to learn more about Earth and to see if life might exist on other planets. They look at things like mountains, valleys, and craters on these planets. Some moons, like Earth's Moon, also have rocky surfaces and are studied like terrestrial planets.

Fun Facts

• Terrestrial planets have a metal core, usually made of iron, surrounded by a rocky layer.
• Earth is the only terrestrial planet with lots of water and active surfaces.
• Scientists have found many planets around other stars that might be like Earth. Some of these are called super-Earths because they are a bit bigger than our planet.