Terrestrial planets are the small, dense, rocky planets like Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars that have solid surfaces made mostly of rock and metal.

What are called terrestrial planets?

  • “Terrestrial” (or telluric/rocky) planets are worlds made primarily of silicate rock and metals with a solid surface.
  • In our solar system, the four terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, the inner planets closest to the Sun.
  • They typically have a dense metal core (mostly iron and nickel), a rocky mantle and crust, and relatively thin or even no atmospheres compared with gas giants.

In simple terms: when people ask “what are called terrestrial planets,” they mean “Which planets are the rocky, Earth‑like ones?”
Answer: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

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