What's Inside a Planet?

The inside of a planet varies, but there are many common elements among them. CREDIT: USGS. View full size image

The planets in our solar system contain a diverse array of ingredients. But there are a lot of common elements that go into them.

First, the terrestrial, or rocky worlds:

Mercury

Mercury has an average density of 5,430 kilograms per cubic meter, which is second only to Earth among all the planets. It is estimated that the planet Mercury, like Earth, has a ferrous core, meaning it's made of iron, with a size equivalent to two-thirds to three-fourths that of the planet's overall radius.

The core is believed to be composed of an iron-nickel alloy covered by a mantle and surface crust.

Venus

It is believed that the composition of the planet Venus is similar to that of Earth. The planet crust extends to around 10-30 kilometers below the surface, under which the mantle reaches to a depth of some 3000 kilometers.

The planet core comprises a liquid iron-nickel alloy. Average planet density is 5240 kilograms per cubic meter.

Earth

The Earth comprises three separate layers: a crust, a mantle, and a core (in descending order from the surface). The crust thickness averages 30 kilometers for land masses and 5 kilometers for seabeds.

The mantle extends from just below the crust to some 2900 kilometers deep.

The core below the mantle begins at a depth of around 5100 kilometers, and comprises an outer core (liquid iron-nickel alloy) and inner core (solid iron-nickel alloy). The crust is composed mainly of granite in the case of land masses and basalt in the case of seabeds.

The mantle is composed primarily of peridotite and high-pressure minerals. Average planet density is 5,520 kilograms per cubic meter.

Mars

Mars is roughly one-half the diameter of Earth. Due to its small size, it is believed that the martian center has cooled. Geological structure is mainly rock and metal.

The mantle below the crust comprises iron-oxide-rich silicate. The core is made up of an iron-nickel alloy and iron sulfide. Average planet density is 3930 kilograms per cubic meter.

Pluto

Whether you call it a planet or a dwarf or a plutoid, the structure of Pluto is not very well understood.

The surface is covered with methane ice which has a bright coloration. However, with the exception of the polar caps, the frozen methane surface is seen to change to a dark red when eclipsed by its moon Charon. Average planet density is 2,060 kilograms per cubic meter.

The low average density requires that the planet must be a mix of ice and rock.

SOURCE: NASA

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