Terrestrial planet Terrestrial planet A terrestrial planet, telluric planet, or rocky planet is a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals. Within the Solar System, the terrestrial planets are the inner planets closest to the Sun, i.e. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The terms "terrestrial planet" and "telluric planet" are derived from Latin words for Earth ("Terra" and "Tellus"), as these planets are, in terms of structure, "Earth-like". Terrestrial planets have a solid planetary surface, making them substantially different from the larger giant planets, which are composed mostly of some combination of hydrogen, helium, and water existing in various
Eris (dwarf planet) decide the issue. This was announced as the IAU's "Definition of a Planet in the Solar System," adopted on 24 August 2006. At this time, both Eris and Pluto were classified as "dwarf planets," a category distinct from the new definition of "planet." Brown has since stated his approval of this classification. The IAU subsequently added Eris to its Minor Planet Catalogue, designating it "(136199) Eris." Eris has an orbital period of 558 years. Its maximum possible distance from the Sun (aphelion) is 97.65 AU, and its closest (perihelion) is 37.91 AU. It came to perihelion between 1698 and 1699,