Solar System - Know about every planets of our solar system!

AN OVERVIEW OF SOLAR SYSTEM

The solar system consists of the Sun and everything that orbits or moves around it. This includes the eight planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune) and their moons, as well as dwarf planets (Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake), asteroids, comets, and other small ice bodies. Despite this, the majority of the solar system exists in space. Solar system is only a small part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is a massive structure of stars and other objects. Every 225 million years, the solar system rounds the galaxy’s center. The Milky Way galaxy is one of billions of galaxies that make up the entire universe.

Note: Pluto was counted as a planet until 2006. It was at the farthest point from the sun. Then, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established a new definition of a planet that excluded Pluto (Dwarf Planet). So, it has been removed from the solar family.

LIST OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The solar system contains eight planets, which are massive, almost spherical objects that circles the Sun in elliptical paths known as orbits. The Earth is also a planet, and it is far enough away from the Sun that it is neither too hot nor too cold to support life. Planets formed at least 4.6 billion years ago when dust and gas discs around the Sun collided and coalesced due to gravity. Generally, Planets are divided into two types:

Rocky Planets or Terrestrial Planets: Terrestrial planets are Earth-like planets composed of rocks or metals with a hard surface. Terrestrial planets contain a molten heavy-metal core, a few moons, and topographic features like valleys, volcanoes, and craters. Earth, Mars, Mercury, and Venus are the terrestrial, or rocky, planets of our solar system.
Gas Giants or Jovian Planets: Jovian planets are also referred to as gas giants. The phrase “Jovian” refers to the planet Jupiter, also known as Jove, the Roman god of thunder and sky. The word is used to describe other gas planets in our solar system as Jupiter-like. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the gas giant, or Jovian planets of our solar system.

The solar system also contains asteroids, which are small irregularly shaped objects made of rock, metal, and carbon that orbit the Sun. The asteroid belt is home to the vast bulk of these objects, which orbit Mars and Jupiter.

MEMBERS OF SOLAR SYSTEM

SUN

The Sun is the only star which place at the centre of our solar system. It is approximately 109 times larger than Earth and contains 99.8% of the total mass of the solar system; about one million Earths could fit within the sun. The sun’s surface is approximately 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius) hot, but its core can reach temperatures of almost 27 million Fahrenheit (15 million Celsius). The Sun is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) far from Earth. The sun was born approximately 4.6 billion years ago. Many scientists believe that the sun and the rest of the solar system emerged from a massive, revolving cloud of gas and dust known as the solar nebula. As the nebula contracted under gravity, it spun faster and flattened into a disc. The sun was formed by pulling most of the material towards the centre. The sun has enough nuclear fuel to remain for the next 5 billion years. Following that, it will grow to become a red giant.

MERCURY

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun as well as the smallest planet in the solar system. It is named after the Roman of god ‘Mercury’. The size of mercury is slightly bigger than the Earth’s moon and takes near about 88 days to take a complete revolution around the sun. It is a terrestrial planet like venus, earth, and mars. The planet can be seen as a star-like object in the twilight after sunset. The atmosphere of Mercury is extremely thin and mostly consists of oxygen (O2), sodium (Na), hydrogen(H), helium (He), and potassium (K).

Mercury facts

Equator circumference: 15,329km
Radius: 2,440km
Average distance from Sun: 58 million km/ 0.39 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: -180°C to 430°C
Day length: 58.7 Earth days
Year length: 88 Earth days
Sunlight travel time: 3.2 Minutes
Average orbital speed: 107,082 mph (47km/s)
Moons: 0
Planet type: terrestrial

VENUS

Venus is the second closest planet to Sun and the closest to the Earth. The name of the planet Venus is named after the Roman Goddess of Love. Venus is sometimes reffers as Earth’s twin because it has similar size and density as Earth. It takes 225 days to complete a revolution around the sun. It rotates from East to West while the Earth rotates from West to East. The surface of the planet is usually covered in dense clouds of sulfuric acid (H2SO4).

Venus Facts

Equator circumference: 38,025km
Radius: 6,051km
Average distance from Sun: 108.8 million km/ 0.72 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: 464°C
Day length: 243 Earth days
Year length: 225 Earth days
Sunlight travel time: 6 Minutes
Average orbital speed: 78,341 mph (35km/s)
Moons: 0
Planet type: terrestrial

EARTH

Our home planet, Earth, is the third farthest planet from the Sun. It is the only planet of our solar system which sustain the life. The atmosphere of Earth covered with nitrogen and oxygen. Earth is the largest terrestrial planet in our solar system. Earth is the densest planet of our solar system, with an average density of 5,513 km/m³. 71% of the earth’s surface area is covered with ocean water and remaining 29% is covered with continents, islands. Earth takes 365 days to complete a revolution around the sun.

Earth Facts

Equator circumference: 40,075km
Radius: 6,371km
Average distance from Sun: 149 million km/ 1 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: 15°C
Day length: 1 Earth days (23 Hour 56 Minutes 4 Seconds)
Year length: 365.25 Earth days
Sunlight travel time: 8.33 Minutes
Average orbital speed: 66,620 mph (29.78km/s)
Moons: 1
Planet type: terrestrial

MARS

Mars is the fourth (in terms of distance) and second smallest planet of solar system. It is a desert-like planet coated with iron oxide dust, which is the reason of its distinctive red tint. It is named after the Roman God of War. Mars is well-known for its massive dust storm, which can cover the entire planet for several months. Although the atmosphere on Mars is too thin for liquid water to remain on the surface for a lengthy amount of time, evidence of a wetter Mars can still be observed today.

Mars Facts

Equator circumference: 21,339km
Radius: 3,390km
Average distance from Sun: 228 million km/ 1.5 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: -53°C to 27°C
Day length: Near about 1 Earth days (24 Hours 37 Minutes 22 Seconds)
Year length: 687 Days
Sunlight travel time: 13.39 Minutes
Average orbital speed: 53,853mph (24.07km/s)
Moons: 2 (Phobos, Deimos)
Planet type: terrestrial

JUPITER

Jupiter is the fifth farthest and the largest planet of our solar system. Its whirling clouds are tinted by a variety of trace gases, including ammonia ice, ammonium hydro-sulfide crystals, and water vapour. Planet Jupiter has the shortest day compared to all other planets of the solar system. Planet Jupiter has the second most number (after Saturn) of the known moons in our solar system. Jupiter’s moon ‘Ganymede’ is the largest moon of our solar system, which is bigger than the planets Mercury and Pluto (dwarf planet). The mass of Jupiter is approximately 318 times the earth.

Jupiter Facts

Equator circumference: 439,264km
Radius: 69,911km
Average distance from Sun: 778 million km/ 5.2 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: -110°C
Day length: 10 Hours
Year length: 4,333 Earth days (12 Years)
Sunlight travel time: 40 Minutes (Average)
Average orbital speed: 29,236mph (13.07km/s)
Moons: 95 Approx.
Planet type: Jovian

SATURN

Saturn is the sixth farthest and second largest (after Jupiter) planet from the Sun is known for its extensive and unusual ring system. The gaseous planet, which is mainly Hydrogen (H) and Helium (He). All giant planets have rings but, Saturn’s rings are clearly visible from earth with ordinary telescopes. Planet Saturn has the maximum number of the known moons in our solar system. Saturn is the least densely planet of our solar family. Even Its density is lesser than the density of water.

Saturn Facts

Equator circumference: 378,675km
Radius: 58,232km
Average distance from Sun: 1.4 billion km/ 9.5 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: -178°C
Day length: 10 Hour 34 Minutes
Year length: 10,756 Earth Days (29.4 Years)
Sunlight travel time: 80 Minutes
Average orbital speed: 21,675mph (9.69km/s)
Moons: 146 Approx.
Planet type: Jovian

URANUS

Uranus is the seventh farthest and third largest planet from the Sun. The named of its after ancient Greek god of the sky ‘Uranus’. This planet also has a ring system like other giant planets. The surface of it possesses hydrogen sulphide clouds. Though Uranus is the coldest planet (temperature) in the solar system but, its average temperature is higher than the Neptune. Uranus’ blue-green hue is due to presence of methane in its atmosphere.

Uranus Facts

Equator circumference: 159,354km
Radius: 25,362km
Average distance from Sun: 2.9305 billion km/ 19 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: -195°C
Day length: 17 Hour 14 Minutes
Year length: 30,687 Earth days (84 Earth Years)
Sunlight travel time: 2 Hour 40 Minutes
Average orbital speed: 15,290mph (6.83km/s)
Moons: 28
Planet type: Jovian

NEPTUNE

Neptune is the 8th planet in our solar system and the most distant planet from the Sun. It is an ‘ice giant’ planet, which is smaller than the planet Uranus but has a greater mass than Uranus. The planet is made up of 83% hydrogen, 15% helium, and 2% methane. Neptune is similar in size to Uranus and is known for its supersonic strong winds. The planet is over 30 times as far away from the Sun as Earth is. Neptune is approximately 17 times the size of Earth and has a rocky core.

Neptune Facts

Equator circumference: 154,705km
Radius: 24,764km
Average distance from Sun: 4.4722 billion km/ 30 astronomical units (AU)
Surface temperature: -201°C
Day length: 16 Hour 6 Minutes
Year length: 60,190 Earth days (165 Earth Years)
Sunlight travel time: 4 Hour
Average orbital speed: 12,146 mph (5.43km/s)
Moons: 16
Planet type: Jovian

PLANET DATA TABLE

Planet Name	Mass (Kg)	Radius (Km)	Distance (Km/AU)	Moons	Perimeter (Km)	Day Length	Year Length	Sun Light Travel Time	Planet Type
MERCURY	3.28 X 10^23	2,440	58 Million Km/ 0.39 AU	NO	15,329	58.7 Earth Days	88 Earth Days	3.2 Minutes	Terrestrial
VENUS	4.86 X 10^24	6,051	108.8 Million Km/ 0.72 AU	NO	38,025	243 Earth Days	225 Earth Days	6 Minutes	Terrestrial
EARTH	5.97 X 10^24	6,371	149 Million Km/ 1 AU	1	40,075	1 (23 Hour 56 Min 4 Sec)	365.25 Earth Days	8.33 Minutes	Terrestrial
MARS	6.39 X 10^23	3,390	228 Million Km/ 1.5 AU	2	21,339	≈1 (24 Hour 37 Min 22 Sec)	687 Earth Days	13.39 Minutes	Terrestrial
JUPITER	1.89 X 10^27	69,911	778 Million Km/ 5.2 AU	95	4,39,264	10 Hour	4,333 Earth Days (12 Years)	40 Minutes	Jovian
SATURN	5.68 X 10^26	58,232	1.4 Billion Km/ 9.5 AU	146	3,78,675	10 Hour 34 Minutes	10,756 Earth Days (29.4 Years)	80 Minutes	Jovian
URANUS	8.68 X 10^25	25,362	2.93 Billion Km/ 19 AU	28	1,59,354	17 Hour 14 Minutes	30,687 Earth Days (84 Years)	2 Hour 40 Minutes	Jovian
NEPTUNE	1.024 X 10^26	24,764	4.47 Billion Km/ 30 AU	16	1,54,705	16 Hour 6 Minutes	60,190 Earth Days (165 Years)	4 Hour	Jovian

OTHER MEMBERS OF SOLAR SYSTEM

Our solar system is made up of a star called the Sun, eight planets, more than 290 moons, a slew of comets, asteroids, space rocks, ice, and a number of dwarf planets, including Pluto. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune comprise the eight planets.

Satellites: Satellites are the objects which orbit their respective planets in a defined path in solar system. Moon is the natural satellite of our Earth. Where Ganymede (which orbits Jupiter) and Titan (which orbits Saturn) are larger than planet Mercury and have own atmosphere.
Asteroids: Asteroids are the rocky remains of material left over from the formation of the solar system and its planets some 4.6 billion years ago. According to NASA, the vast majority of asteroids come from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. NASA’s current asteroid count exceeds 1 million. Asteroids orbit the sun in severely flattened, or “elliptical” circles, frequently revolving erratically, tumbling and falling through space. They are not visible to the naked eye from Earth, although many can be seen via binoculars or small telescopes.
Comets: Comets are ice things made up of frozen gases, minerals, and dust that were formed around 4.6 billion years ago when the solar system first formed. They orbit the sun in extremely elliptical orbits that can take hundreds of thousands of years to complete. When a comet approaches the sun, it rapidly heats up, forcing solid ice to convert straight into gas through a process known as sublimation. The gas, which contains water vapor, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other trace elements, eventually flows into the unmistakable comet tail. Some of these comets comes on a regular basis, such as Halley’s Comet, which appears every 76 years (the next time is in 2061!).
Dwarf Planets: Dwarf planets are celestial bodies that are too small to be called planets yet too huge to fall into lesser categories. The International Astronomical Unit defines a planet as something that meets the following criteria:

Be in orbit around the Sun.
Have enough gravity to pull their bulk into a spherical shape.
Clear their orbit of smaller items.

The last point that distinguishes planets from dwarf planets. A planet’s gravity would attract or repel smaller bodies that impede its orbit, but the dwarf planet’s gravity is insufficient to do so. Currently, five dwarf planets have been discovered: Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake. Scientists believe that there may be over a hundred dwarf planets waiting to be discovered.

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