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Comparison page

Two big planet groups

Inner and outer planets, clearly compared

This page helps the reader move from a list of planets to a clear comparison. The inner planets are rocky and smaller. The outer planets are much larger and are known for thick atmospheres, rings, and many moons.

Back to the orderOpen all planetsFull Solar System
A lineup of planets that shows the difference between the inner and outer groups.

The two-group comparison makes the Solar System easier to remember.

Inner planets

  • Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
  • Smaller worlds made mainly of rock and metal.
  • Closer to the Sun.
  • Solid surfaces that can have craters, dust, mountains, ice, or oceans.
MercuryVenusEarthMars

Outer planets

  • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
  • Much larger than the inner planets.
  • Farther from the Sun.
  • Better known for deep atmospheres, ring systems, and many moons.
JupiterSaturnUranusNeptune

Why this comparison helps

Rocky example

Earth is a helpful inner-planet example because readers already understand land, water, weather, and atmosphere.

Giant example

Jupiter is a helpful outer-planet example because it shows how different a giant world can be from the rocky planets.

Ice giant example

Uranus helps show that not every outer planet is the same. It adds a different color, chemistry, and style of giant world.

Distant giant example

Neptune completes the comparison by showing a cold, dark, very distant outer world.