Final answer:
The inner planets have rocky surfaces and thick atmospheres, while the outer planets have large moons and extensive ring systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of the inner planets include:
- Rocky surfaces: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are all composed mostly of rocks and metals.
- Thick atmospheres: While Venus and Earth have thick atmospheres, Mercury and Mars have very thin atmospheres.
Large moons and extensive ring systems are not characteristic of the inner planets. These features are more commonly found in the outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn, which have impressive systems of moons and rings.