Until recently, astronomers believed that such a concept as a planet refers exclusively to the solar system. Everything that is outside it is unexplored cosmic bodies, most often stars of very large scales. But, as it turned out later, the planets, like peas, are scattered throughout the universe. They are different in their geological and chemical composition, may or may not have an atmosphere, and all this depends on the interaction with the nearest star. The arrangement of the planets in our solar system is unique. It is this factor that is fundamental for the conditions that have formed on each individual space object.
Our space house and its features
In the center of the solar system is the star of the same name, which is included in the category of yellow dwarfs. Its magnetic field is enough to hold nine planets of various sizes around its axis. Among them there are dwarf stony cosmic bodies, vast gas giants that reach almost the parameters of the star itself, and objects of the "middle" class, which include the Earth. The positions of the planets in the solar system do not occur in ascending or descending order. We can say that with respect to the parameters of each individual astronomical body, their arrangement is chaotic, that is, the large alternates with the small.
SS structure
To consider the location of the planets in our system, it is necessary to take the Sun as a reference point. This star is located in the center of the SS, and it is its magnetic fields that correct the orbits and movements of all surrounding space bodies. Nine planets revolve around the Sun, as well as an asteroid ring that lies between Mars and Jupiter, and the Kuiper Belt, located outside of Pluto. In these intervals, individual dwarf planets are also distinguished, which are sometimes attributed to the main units of the system. Other astronomers believe that all these objects are nothing more than large asteroids, on which, under no circumstances, life can arise. They attribute Pluto itself to this category, leaving only 8 planetary units in our system.
The order of the planets
So, we will list all the planets, starting with the one closest to the Sun. In the first place are Mercury, Venus, then Earth and Mars. After the Red Planet, a ring of asteroids passes, behind which a parade of giants consisting of gases begins. These are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The list is completed by the dwarf and icy Pluto, with its no less cold and black satellite Charon. As we said above, several more dwarf space units are distinguished in the system. The location of dwarf planets in this category coincides with the Kuiper belts and asteroids. Ceres is in an asteroid ring. Makemake, Haumea and Eris are in the Kuiper belt.
terrestrial planets
This category includes cosmic bodies, which in their composition and parameters have much in common with our home planet. Their bowels are also filled with metals and stone, either a full-fledged atmosphere is formed around the surface, or a haze that resembles it. The location of the terrestrial planets is easy to remember, because these are the first four objects that are directly next to the Sun - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Characteristic features are small size, as well as a long period of rotation around its axis. Also, of all the terrestrial planets, only the Earth itself and Mars have satellites.
Giants made of gases and hot metals
The location of the planets of the solar system, which are called gas giants, is the most distant from the main star. They are located behind the asteroid ring and stretch almost to the Kuiper belt. There are four giants in total - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Each of these planets consists of hydrogen and helium, and in the region of the core there are metals heated to a liquid state. All four giants are characterized by an incredibly strong gravitational field. Due to this, they attract numerous satellites to themselves, which form almost entire asteroid systems around them. SS gas balls rotate very quickly, therefore whirlwinds and hurricanes often occur on them. But, despite all these similarities, it is worth remembering that each of the giants is unique in its composition, size, and gravity.
dwarf planets
Since we have already considered in detail the location of the planets from the Sun, we know that Pluto is the farthest, and its orbit is the most gigantic in the SS. It is he who is the most important representative of dwarfs, and only he from this group is the most studied. Dwarfs are those cosmic bodies that are too small for planets, but also large for asteroids. Their structure can be comparable to Mars or Earth, or it can be just rocky, like any asteroid. Above, we have listed the brightest representatives of this group - these are Ceres, Eris, Makemake, Haumea. In fact, dwarfs are found not only in the two SS asteroid belts. Often they are called satellites of gas giants, which were attracted to them due to the huge
The boundless space that surrounds us is not just a huge airless space and emptiness. Here everything is subject to a single and strict order, everything has its own rules and obeys the laws of physics. Everything is in constant motion and is constantly interconnected with each other. This is a system in which each celestial body has its own specific place. The center of the universe is surrounded by galaxies, among which is our Milky Way. Our galaxy, in turn, is formed by stars, around which large and small planets revolve with their natural satellites. Wandering objects - comets and asteroids - complete the picture of the universal scale.
Our solar system is also located in this endless cluster of stars - a tiny astrophysical object by cosmic standards, which also includes our cosmic home - the planet Earth. For us earthlings, the size of the solar system is colossal and difficult to comprehend. In terms of the scale of the universe, these are tiny numbers - only 180 astronomical units or 2.693e + 10 km. Here, too, everything is subject to its own laws, has its own clearly defined place and sequence.
Brief description and description
The position of the Sun provides the interstellar medium and the stability of the solar system. Its location is an interstellar cloud that is part of the Orion Cygnus arm, which in turn is part of our galaxy. From a scientific point of view, our Sun is located on the periphery, 25 thousand light years from the center of the Milky Way, if we consider the galaxy in the diametrical plane. In turn, the movement of the solar system around the center of our galaxy is carried out in orbit. The full rotation of the Sun around the center of the Milky Way is carried out in different ways, within 225-250 million years and is one galactic year. The orbit of the solar system has an inclination of 600 to the galactic plane. Nearby, in the neighborhood of our system, other stars and other solar systems with their large and small planets run around the center of the galaxy.
The approximate age of the solar system is 4.5 billion years. Like most objects in the universe, our star was formed as a result of the Big Bang. The origin of the solar system is explained by the action of the same laws that have operated and continue to operate today in the field of nuclear physics, thermodynamics and mechanics. First, a star was formed, around which, due to ongoing centripetal and centrifugal processes, the formation of planets began. The sun was formed from a dense collection of gases - a molecular cloud, which was the product of a colossal explosion. As a result of centripetal processes, the molecules of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and other elements were compressed into one continuous and dense mass.
The result of grandiose and such large-scale processes was the formation of a protostar, in the structure of which thermonuclear fusion began. This long process, which began much earlier, we observe today, looking at our Sun after 4.5 billion years from the moment of its formation. The scale of the processes occurring during the formation of a star can be represented by estimating the density, size and mass of our Sun:
- the density is 1.409 g/cm3;
- the volume of the Sun is almost the same figure - 1.40927x1027 m3;
- the mass of the star is 1.9885x1030kg.
Today, our Sun is an ordinary astrophysical object in the Universe, not the smallest star in our galaxy, but far from the largest. The sun is in its mature age, being not only the center of the solar system, but also the main factor in the emergence and existence of life on our planet.
The final structure of the solar system falls on the same period, with a difference of plus or minus half a billion years. The mass of the entire system, where the Sun interacts with other celestial bodies of the Solar System, is 1.0014 M☉. In other words, all the planets, satellites and asteroids, cosmic dust and particles of gases revolving around the Sun, in comparison with the mass of our star, are a drop in the ocean.
In the form in which we have an idea of our star and planets revolving around the Sun - this is a simplified version. For the first time, a mechanical heliocentric model of the solar system with a clockwork was presented to the scientific community in 1704. It should be borne in mind that the orbits of the planets of the solar system do not all lie in the same plane. They rotate around at a certain angle.
The model of the solar system was created on the basis of a simpler and more ancient mechanism - tellurium, with the help of which the position and movement of the Earth in relation to the Sun was modeled. With the help of tellurium, it was possible to explain the principle of the movement of our planet around the Sun, to calculate the duration of the earth's year.
The simplest model of the solar system is presented in school textbooks, where each of the planets and other celestial bodies occupy a certain place. In this case, it should be taken into account that the orbits of all objects revolving around the Sun are located at different angles to the diametrical plane of the Solar System. The planets of the solar system are located at different distances from the sun, rotate at different speeds and rotate around their own axis in different ways.
A map - a diagram of the solar system - is a drawing where all objects are located in the same plane. In this case, such an image gives an idea only of the size of celestial bodies and the distances between them. Thanks to this interpretation, it became possible to understand the location of our planet in a number of other planets, to assess the scale of celestial bodies and to give an idea of the vast distances that separate us from our celestial neighbors.
Planets and other objects of the solar system
Almost the entire universe is a myriad of stars, among which there are large and small solar systems. The presence of a star of its satellite planets is a common phenomenon in space. The laws of physics are the same everywhere, and our solar system is no exception.
If you ask yourself how many planets there were in the solar system and how many there are today, it is quite difficult to answer unambiguously. Currently, the exact location of 8 major planets is known. In addition, 5 small dwarf planets revolve around the Sun. The existence of a ninth planet is currently disputed in scientific circles.
The entire solar system is divided into groups of planets, which are arranged in the following order:
Terrestrial planets:
- Mercury;
- Venus;
- Mars.
Gas planets - giants:
- Jupiter;
- Saturn;
- Uranus;
- Neptune.
All the planets presented in the list differ in structure, have different astrophysical parameters. Which planet is larger or smaller than the others? The sizes of the planets of the solar system are different. The first four objects, similar in structure to the Earth, have a solid stone surface and are endowed with an atmosphere. Mercury, Venus and Earth are the inner planets. Mars closes this group. It is followed by the gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune - dense, spherical gas formations.
The process of life of the planets of the solar system does not stop for a second. Those planets that we see today in the sky are the arrangement of celestial bodies that the planetary system of our star has at the current moment. The state that was at the dawn of the formation of the solar system is strikingly different from what is studied today.
The table shows the astrophysical parameters of modern planets, which also indicates the distance of the planets of the solar system to the sun.
The existing planets of the solar system are about the same age, but there are theories that there were more planets in the beginning. This is evidenced by numerous ancient myths and legends describing the presence of other astrophysical objects and catastrophes that led to the death of the planet. This is confirmed by the structure of our star system, where, along with the planets, there are objects that are products of violent cosmic cataclysms.
A striking example of such activity is the asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Here, objects of extraterrestrial origin are concentrated in a huge number, mainly represented by asteroids and small planets. It is these fragments of irregular shape in human culture that are considered the remains of the protoplanet Phaeton, which died billions of years ago as a result of a large-scale cataclysm.
In fact, there is an opinion in scientific circles that the asteroid belt was formed as a result of the destruction of a comet. Astronomers have discovered the presence of water on the large asteroid Themis and on the minor planets Ceres and Vesta, which are the largest objects in the asteroid belt. The ice found on the surface of asteroids may indicate the cometary nature of the formation of these cosmic bodies.
Previously, Pluto, belonging to the number of large planets, is not considered a full-fledged planet today.
Pluto, which was previously ranked among the large planets of the solar system, is now translated into the size of dwarf celestial bodies revolving around the sun. Pluto, along with Haumea and Makemake, the largest dwarf planets, is in the Kuiper Belt.
These dwarf planets of the solar system are located in the Kuiper belt. The region between the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud is the most distant from the Sun, but even there space is not empty. In 2005, the most distant celestial body in our solar system, the dwarf planet Eridu, was discovered there. The process of exploring the most distant regions of our solar system continues. The Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud are hypothetically the boundary regions of our star system, the visible boundary. This cloud of gas is located at a distance of one light year from the Sun and is the area where comets, wandering satellites of our star, are born.
Characteristics of the planets of the solar system
The terrestrial group of planets is represented by the planets closest to the Sun - Mercury and Venus. These two cosmic bodies of the solar system, despite the similarity in physical structure with our planet, are a hostile environment for us. Mercury is the smallest planet in our star system and is closest to the Sun. The heat of our star literally incinerates the surface of the planet, practically destroying the atmosphere on it. The distance from the surface of the planet to the Sun is 57,910,000 km. In size, only 5 thousand km in diameter, Mercury is inferior to most of the large satellites that are dominated by Jupiter and Saturn.
Saturn's satellite Titan has a diameter of over 5,000 km, Jupiter's satellite Ganymede has a diameter of 5265 km. Both satellites are second only to Mars in size.
The very first planet rushes around our star at great speed, making a complete revolution around our star in 88 Earth days. It is almost impossible to notice this small and nimble planet in the starry sky due to the close presence of the solar disk. Among the terrestrial planets, it is on Mercury that the largest daily temperature drops are observed. While the surface of the planet, facing the Sun, is heated up to 700 degrees Celsius, the reverse side of the planet is immersed in universal cold with temperatures up to -200 degrees.
The main difference between Mercury and all the planets of the solar system is its internal structure. Mercury has the largest iron-nickel inner core, which accounts for 83% of the mass of the entire planet. However, even the uncharacteristic quality did not allow Mercury to have its own natural satellites.
Next to Mercury is the closest planet to us, Venus. The distance from Earth to Venus is 38 million km, and it is very similar to our Earth. The planet has almost the same diameter and mass, slightly inferior in these parameters to our planet. However, in all other respects, our neighbor is fundamentally different from our space home. The period of revolution of Venus around the Sun is 116 Earth days, and the planet rotates extremely slowly around its own axis. The average temperature of the surface of Venus rotating around its axis for 224 Earth days is 447 degrees Celsius.
Like its predecessor, Venus is devoid of the physical conditions conducive to the existence of known life forms. The planet is surrounded by a dense atmosphere, consisting mainly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Both Mercury and Venus are the only planets in the solar system that do not have natural satellites.
The Earth is the last of the inner planets of the solar system, located at a distance of about 150 million km from the Sun. Our planet makes one revolution around the sun in 365 days. It rotates around its own axis in 23.94 hours. The Earth is the first of the celestial bodies, located on the way from the Sun to the periphery, which has a natural satellite.
Digression: The astrophysical parameters of our planet are well studied and known. Earth is the largest and densest planet of all the other inner planets in the solar system. It is here that natural physical conditions have been preserved under which the existence of water is possible. Our planet has a stable magnetic field that holds the atmosphere. Earth is the most well-studied planet. The subsequent study is mainly of not only theoretical interest, but also practical.
Closes the parade of planets of the terrestrial group Mars. The subsequent study of this planet is mainly not only of theoretical interest, but also of practical interest, connected with the development of extraterrestrial worlds by man. Astrophysicists are attracted not only by the relative proximity of this planet to the Earth (on average 225 million km), but also by the absence of difficult climatic conditions. The planet is surrounded by an atmosphere, although it is in an extremely rarefied state, it has its own magnetic field and temperature drops on the surface of Mars are not as critical as on Mercury and Venus.
Like the Earth, Mars has two satellites - Phobos and Deimos, the natural nature of which has recently been questioned. Mars is the last fourth planet with a solid surface in the solar system. Following the asteroid belt, which is a kind of inner boundary of the solar system, the realm of gas giants begins.
The largest cosmic celestial bodies in our solar system
The second group of planets that make up the system of our star has bright and large representatives. These are the largest objects in our solar system and are considered outer planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the most distant from our star, and their astrophysical parameters are enormous by earthly standards. These celestial bodies differ in their massiveness and composition, which is mainly of a gas nature.
The main beauties of the solar system are Jupiter and Saturn. The total mass of this pair of giants would be enough to fit in it the mass of all known celestial bodies in the solar system. So Jupiter - the largest planet in the solar system - weighs 1876.64328 1024 kg, and the mass of Saturn is 561.80376 1024 kg. These planets have the most natural satellites. Some of them, Titan, Ganymede, Callisto and Io, are the largest satellites in the solar system and are comparable in size to the terrestrial planets.
The largest planet in the solar system - Jupiter - has a diameter of 140 thousand km. In many respects, Jupiter is more like a failed star - a vivid example of the existence of a small solar system. This is evidenced by the size of the planet and astrophysical parameters - Jupiter is only 10 times smaller than our star. The planet rotates around its own axis quite quickly - only 10 Earth hours. The number of satellites, of which 67 pieces have been identified to date, is also striking. The behavior of Jupiter and its moons is very similar to the model of the solar system. Such a number of natural satellites for one planet raises a new question, how many planets of the solar system were at an early stage of its formation. It is assumed that Jupiter, having a powerful magnetic field, turned some of the planets into its natural satellites. Some of them - Titan, Ganymede, Callisto and Io - are the largest satellites of the solar system and are comparable in size to the terrestrial planets.
Slightly inferior in size to Jupiter is its smaller brother, the gas giant Saturn. This planet, like Jupiter, consists mainly of hydrogen and helium - gases that are the basis of our star. With its size, the diameter of the planet is 57 thousand km, Saturn also resembles a protostar that has stopped in its development. The number of satellites of Saturn is slightly inferior to the number of satellites of Jupiter - 62 versus 67. On the satellite of Saturn, Titan, as well as on Io, the satellite of Jupiter, there is an atmosphere.
In other words, the largest planets Jupiter and Saturn, with their systems of natural satellites, strongly resemble small solar systems, with their clearly defined center and system of movement of celestial bodies.
The two gas giants are followed by cold and dark worlds, the planets Uranus and Neptune. These celestial bodies are located at a distance of 2.8 billion km and 4.49 billion km. from the Sun, respectively. Due to their great distance from our planet, Uranus and Neptune were discovered relatively recently. Unlike the other two gas giants, Uranus and Neptune have a large amount of frozen gases - hydrogen, ammonia and methane. These two planets are also called ice giants. Uranus is smaller than Jupiter and Saturn and is the third largest planet in the solar system. The planet represents the cold pole of our star system. The average temperature on the surface of Uranus is -224 degrees Celsius. Uranus differs from other celestial bodies revolving around the Sun by a strong inclination of its own axis. The planet seems to be rolling, revolving around our star.
Like Saturn, Uranus is surrounded by a hydrogen-helium atmosphere. Neptune, unlike Uranus, has a different composition. The presence of methane in the atmosphere is indicated by the blue color of the spectrum of the planet.
Both planets slowly and majestically move around our star. Uranus orbits the Sun in 84 Earth years, and Neptune circles our star twice as long - 164 Earth years.
Finally
Our solar system is a huge mechanism in which every planet, all the satellites of the solar system, asteroids and other celestial bodies move along a clearly defined route. The laws of astrophysics operate here, which have not changed for 4.5 billion years. Dwarf planets move along the outer edges of our solar system in the Kuiper belt. Comets are frequent guests of our star system. These space objects with a frequency of 20-150 years visit the inner regions of the solar system, flying in the visibility zone from our planet.
If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.
The boundless space, despite the apparent chaos, is a fairly harmonious structure. In this gigantic world, the immutable laws of physics and mathematics also apply. All objects in the Universe, from small to large, occupy their specific place, move along given orbits and trajectories. This order was established more than 15 billion years ago, since the formation of the Universe. Our solar system is no exception - the cosmic metropolis in which we live.
Despite its colossal size, the solar system fits within the human framework of perception, being the most studied part of the cosmos, with well-defined boundaries.
Origin and main astrophysical parameters
In a universe where there are an infinite number of stars, other solar systems certainly exist. In our galaxy alone, the Milky Way, there are approximately 250-400 billion stars, so it cannot be ruled out that worlds with other life forms may exist in the depths of space.
As early as 150-200 years ago, man had meager ideas about space. The dimensions of the Universe were limited by the lenses of telescopes. The sun, moon, planets, comets and asteroids were the only known objects, and the entire cosmos was measured by the size of our galaxy. The situation changed dramatically at the beginning of the 20th century. Astrophysical exploration of outer space and the work of nuclear physicists over the past 100 years have given scientists an idea of how the universe began. Became known and understood the processes that led to the formation of stars, gave building material for the formation of planets. In this light, the origin of the solar system becomes understandable and explainable.
The sun, like other stars, is a product of the Big Bang, after which stars were formed in space. There were objects large and small. In one of the corners of the Universe, among a cluster of other stars, our Sun was born. By cosmic standards, the age of our star is small, only 5 billion years. At the place of her birth, a giant construction site was formed, where, as a result of the gravitational compression of the gas and dust cloud, other objects of the solar system were formed.
Each celestial body took on its own form, took its place. Some celestial bodies, under the influence of the attraction of the Sun, became constant satellites, moving in their own orbit. Other objects ceased to exist as a result of counteraction of centrifugal and centripetal processes. This whole process took about 4.5 billion years. The mass of the entire solar economy is 1.0014 M☉. Of this mass, 99.8% falls on the Sun itself. Only 0.2% of the mass is accounted for by other space objects: planets, satellites and asteroids, fragments of space dust revolving around it.
The orbit of the solar system has an almost circular shape, and the orbital speed coincides with the speed of the galactic spiral. Passing through the interstellar medium, the stability of the solar system is given by the gravitational forces acting within our galaxy. This in turn provides other objects and bodies of the solar system with stability. The movement of the solar system takes place at a considerable distance from the superdense star clusters of our galaxy, which carry a potential danger.
By its size and number of satellites, our solar system cannot be called small. In space, there are small solar systems that have one or two planets and are barely visible in outer space due to their size. Representing a massive galactic object, the stellar system of the Sun moves in space at a tremendous speed of 240 km / s. Even despite such a rapid run, the solar system makes a complete revolution around the center of the galaxy in 225-250 million years.
The exact intergalactic address of our star system is as follows:
- local interstellar cloud;
- a local bubble in the Orion Cygnus arm;
- The Milky Way galaxy is part of the Local Group of Galaxies.
The sun is the central object of our system and is one of the 100 billion stars that make up the Milky Way galaxy. By its size, it is a medium-sized star and belongs to the spectral class G2V Yellow dwarfs. The diameter of the star is 1 million. 392 thousand kilometers, and she is in the middle of her life cycle.
For comparison, the size of Sirius, the brightest star, is 2 million 381 thousand km. Aldebaran has a diameter of almost 60 million km. The huge star Betelgeuse is 1000 times larger than our Sun. The size of this supergiant exceeds the size of the solar system.
Proxima Centauri is considered the closest neighbor of our star in the quarter, to which you will need to fly at the speed of light on the order of 4 years.
The sun, due to its huge mass, keeps eight planets near it, many of which, in turn, have their own systems. The position of objects moving around the Sun is clearly demonstrated by the diagram of the solar system. Almost all the planets in the solar system move around our star in the same direction, along with the rotating Sun. The orbits of the planets are practically in the same plane, have different shapes and move around the center of the system at different speeds. The movement around the Sun is counterclockwise and in the same plane. Only comets and other objects, mostly located in the Kuiper belt, have orbits with a large angle of inclination to the plane of the ecliptic.
Today we know exactly how many planets there are in the solar system, there are 8 of them. All the celestial bodies of the solar system are at a certain distance from the sun, periodically receding or approaching it. Accordingly, each of the planets has its own, different from the others, astrophysical parameters and characteristics. It should be noted that 6 out of 8 planets of the solar system rotate around their axis in the direction in which our star revolves around its own axis. Only Venus and Uranus rotate in the opposite direction. In addition, Uranus is the only planet in the solar system that practically lies on its side. Its axis has an inclination of 90° to the line of the ecliptic.
The first model of the solar system was demonstrated by Nicolaus Copernicus. In his view, the Sun was the central object of our world, around which other planets revolve, including our Earth. Subsequently, Kepler, Galileo, Newton improved this model by placing objects in it in accordance with mathematical and physical laws.
Looking at the presented model, one can imagine that the orbits of space objects are located at equal distances from each other. The solar system looks completely different in nature. The greater the distance to the planets of the solar system from the Sun, the greater the distance between the orbit of the previous celestial object. Visualize the scale of the solar system, allows the table of distances of objects from the center of our star system.
As the distance from the Sun increases, the rate of rotation of the planets around the center of the solar system slows down. Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, takes only 88 Earth days to complete one revolution around our star. Neptune, located at a distance of 4.5 billion kilometers from the Sun, makes a complete revolution in 165 Earth years.
Despite the fact that we are dealing with a heliocentric model of the solar system, many planets have their own systems, consisting of natural satellites and rings. Satellites of the planets move around the parent planets and obey the same laws.
Most of the satellites of the solar system synchronously revolve around their planets, always turning to them with one side. The moon is also always turned to the Earth with one side.
Only two planets, Mercury and Venus, do not have natural satellites. Mercury is even smaller than some of its moons.
Center and boundaries of the solar system
The main and central object of our system is the Sun. It has a complex structure and consists of 92% hydrogen. Only 7% is useful for helium atoms, which, when interacting with hydrogen atoms, become fuel for an endless nuclear chain reaction. In the center of the star there is a core with a diameter of 150-170 thousand km, heated to a temperature of 14 million K.
A brief description of the star will be reduced to a few words: it is a huge thermonuclear natural reactor. Moving from the center of the star to its outer edge, we find ourselves in the convective zone, where energy transfer and plasma mixing take place. This layer has a temperature of 5800K. The visible part of the Sun is the photosphere and chromosphere. Crowning our star is the solar corona, which is the outer shell. The processes occurring inside the Sun affect the entire state of the solar system. Its light warms our planet, the force of attraction and gravity keep objects of near space at a certain distance from each other. As the intensity of internal processes decreases, our star will begin to cool. Consumable stellar material will lose its density, which will lead to the expansion of the body of the star. Instead of a yellow dwarf, our Sun will turn into a huge Red Giant. While our Sun remains the same hot and bright star.
The boundary of the realm of our star is the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud. These are extremely remote regions of outer space, to which the influence of the Sun extends. In the Kuiper belt and in the Oort Cloud there are a lot of other objects of various sizes, which in one way or another affect the processes occurring inside the solar system.
The Oort cloud is a hypothetical spherical space that surrounds the solar system along its entire outer diameter. The distance to this region of space is more than 2 light years. This region is home to comets. It is from there that these rare space guests, long-period comets, fly to us.
The Kuiper belt contains the residual material that was used in the formation of the solar system. Basically, these are small particles of space ice, a cloud of frozen gas (methane and ammonia). There are also large objects in this area, some of which are dwarf planets, smaller fragments, similar in structure to asteroids. The main known objects of the belt are the dwarf planets of the solar system Pluto, Haumea and Makemake. The spacecraft will be able to fly to them in one light year.
Between the Kuiper belt and deep space at the outer edges of the belt, there is a very rarefied region, mainly composed of remnants of cosmic ice and gas.
To date, the existence in this region of our star system of large trans-Neptunian space objects, one of which is the dwarf planet Sedna, is allowed.
Brief description of the planets of the solar system
Scientists have calculated that the mass of all the planets belonging to our star is no more than 0.1% of the mass of the Sun. However, even among this small amount, 99% of the mass falls on the two largest space objects after the Sun - the planets Jupiter and Saturn. The sizes of the planets in the solar system are very different. Among them there are babies and giants, in their structure and astrophysical parameters similar to failed stars.
In astronomy, it is customary to divide all 8 planets into two groups:
- planets with a stone structure belong to the planets of the Earth group;
- planets, which are dense clumps of gas, belong to the group of gas giant planets.
Previously, it was believed that the system of our star includes 9 planets. Only very recently, at the end of the 20th century, Pluto was classified as a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt. Therefore, the question of how many planets are in the solar system today can be firmly answered - eight.
If we arrange the planets of the solar system in order, the map of our world will look like this:
- Venus;
- Earth;
- Jupiter;
- Saturn;
- Uranus;
In the very middle of this parade of planets is the asteroid belt. According to scientists, these are the remains of a planet that existed in the early stages of the solar system, but died as a result of a cosmic cataclysm.
The inner planets Mercury, Venus and Earth are the planets closest to the Sun, closer than the rest of the objects in the solar system, therefore they are completely dependent on the processes taking place on our star. At some distance from them is the ancient God of War - the planet Mars. All four planets are united by the similarity in structure and the identity of astrophysical parameters, therefore they are classified as planets of the Earth group.
Mercury - a close neighbor of the Sun - is a hot frying pan. Paradoxical is the fact that, despite its close location to a hot star, Mercury has the most significant temperature drops in our system. During the day, the surface of the planet heats up to 350 degrees Celsius, and at night the cosmic cold rages with a temperature of -170.2 ° C. Venus is a real boiling cauldron, where there is a huge pressure and high temperatures. Despite its gloomy and dull appearance, Mars is of the greatest interest to scientists today. The composition of its atmosphere, astrophysical parameters similar to those of the earth, and the presence of seasons give hope for the subsequent development and colonization of the planet by representatives of terrestrial civilization.
Gas giants, which for the most part are planets without a solid shell, are interesting for their satellites. Some of them, according to scientists, may represent space territories where, under certain conditions, the emergence of life is possible.
The planets of the terrestrial group are separated from the four gas planets by the asteroid belt - the inner boundary, beyond which lies the realm of the gas giants. Next to the asteroid belt, Jupiter, with its attraction, balances our solar system. This planet is the largest, largest and densest in the solar system. Jupiter's diameter is 140,000 km across. This is five times more than our planet. This gas giant has its own system of satellites, of which there are about 69 pieces. Among them, real giants stand out: the two largest satellites of Jupiter - Ganymede and Calypso - are larger than the planet Mercury.
Saturn - the brother of Jupiter - also has a huge size - 116 thousand km. in diameter. Saturn's retinue is no less impressive - 62 satellites. However, this giant stands out in the night sky for another - a wonderful system of rings encircling the planet. Titan is one of the largest moons in the solar system. This giant has a diameter of more than 10 thousand km. Among the realm of hydrogen, nitrogen and ammonia, there can be no known life forms. However, unlike their host, Saturn's moons have a rocky structure and a hard surface. Some of them have an atmosphere, Enceladus is even supposed to have water.
Continue a series of giant planets Uranus and Neptune. These are cold dark worlds. Unlike Jupiter and Saturn, where hydrogen predominates, methane and ammonia are in the atmosphere here. Instead of condensed gas, Uranus and Neptune have high-temperature ice. In view of this, both planets were singled out in one group - ice giants. Uranus is second in size only to Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune. The orbit of Neptune has a diameter of almost 9 billion kilometers. The planet takes 164 Earth years to go around the Sun.
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune present the most interesting objects for scientists to study today.
Last news
Despite the huge amount of knowledge that mankind has today, the achievements of modern means of observation and research, there are still a lot of unresolved issues. What is the actual solar system, which of the planets may later turn out to be suitable for life?
Man continues to observe the nearest space, making more and more new discoveries. In December 2012, the whole world could watch an enchanting astronomical show - a parade of planets. During this period, all 7 planets of our solar system could be seen in the night sky, including even such distant ones as Uranus and Neptune.
A closer study today is carried out with the help of automatic space probes and devices. Many of them have already managed not only to fly to the most extreme regions of our star system, but also beyond it. The first artificially created space objects that managed to reach the borders of the solar system were the American probes Pioneer-10 and Pioneer-11.
It is interesting to theoretically suggest how far these devices can go beyond the borders? Launched in 1977, the American automatic probe Voyager 1, after 40 years of work on the study of the planets, became the first spacecraft to leave our system.
> Interactive 2D and 3D model of the solar system
Consider: real distances between the planets, moving map, phases of the moon, Copernican and Tycho Brahe systems, instructions.
FLASH Solar System Model
This solar system model created by developers in order to provide users with knowledge about the structure of the solar system and its place in the universe. With its help, you can get a visual representation of how the planets are located relative to the Sun and each other, as well as the mechanics of their movement. Flash technology allows studying all aspects of this process, on the basis of which an animated model was created, which gives the user of the application ample opportunity to study planetary motion both in absolute and relative coordinate systems.
The control of the flash model is simple: in the upper left half of the screen there is a lever for adjusting the speed of rotation of the planets, with which you can even set its negative value. Below is a link to help - HELP. The model has a well-implemented highlighting of important moments of the solar system, which the user should pay attention to while working with it, for example, they are highlighted here in different colors. In addition, if you have a long research process ahead of you, then you can turn on the musical accompaniment, which will perfectly complement the impression of the greatness of the universe.
Menu items with phases are located in the lower left part of the screen, which allows you to visualize their relationship with other processes occurring in the solar system.
In the upper right part, you can enter the date you need in order to get information about the location of the planets for that day. All lovers of astrology and gardeners who adhere to the timing of sowing garden crops will really like this function, depending on the phases of the moon and the position of other planets in the solar system. A little below this part of the menu is a switch between the constellations and the months that follow the edge of the circle.
The lower right part of the screen is occupied by a switch between the astronomical systems of Copernicus and Tycho Brahe. In the heliocentric model of the world created, its center is the Sun with planets revolving around it. The system of the Danish astrologer and astronomer, who lived in the 16th century, is less well known, but it is more convenient for making astrological calculations.
In the center of the screen there is a rotating circle, along the perimeter of which there is one more model control element, it is made in the form of a triangle. If the user pulls this triangle, then he will have the opportunity to set the time required to study the model. Although working with this model you will not get the most accurate dimensions and distances in the solar system, but it is very convenient to manage and most visual.
If the model does not fit on the screen of your monitor, you can reduce it by simultaneously pressing the "Ctrl" and "Minus" keys.
Model of the solar system with real distances between the planets
This option solar system models created without taking into account the beliefs of the ancients, that is, its coordinate system is absolute. The distances here are indicated as clearly and realistically as possible, but the proportions of the planets are conveyed incorrectly, although it also has the right to exist. The fact is that in it the distance from an earthly observer to the center of the solar system varies in the range from 20 to 1,300 million kilometers, and if you gradually change it in the process of studying, you will more clearly represent the scale of distances between planets in our star system. And in order to better understand the relativity of time, a time step switch is provided, the size of which is a day, month or year.
3D model of the solar system
This is the most impressive model of the solar system presented on the page, as it was created using 3D technology and is completely realistic. With its help, you can study the solar system, as well as the constellations, both schematically and in a three-dimensional image. Here you have the opportunity to study the structure of the solar system looking from the Earth, which will allow you to make a fascinating journey close to reality into the outer worlds.
I must say a huge thank you to the developers of solarsystemscope.com who made every effort to create a really necessary and necessary tool for all lovers of astronomy and astrology. Everyone can be convinced of this by clicking on the appropriate links to the virtual model of the solar system he needs.
|
solar system- these are 8 planets and more than 63 of their satellites, which are being discovered more and more often, several dozen comets and a large number of asteroids. All cosmic bodies move along their clear directed trajectories around the Sun, which is 1000 times heavier than all the bodies in the solar system combined. The center of the solar system is the Sun - a star around which planets revolve in orbits. They do not emit heat and do not glow, but only reflect the light of the sun. There are currently 8 officially recognized planets in the solar system. Briefly, in order of distance from the sun, we list them all. And now some definitions. Planet- this is a celestial body that must satisfy four conditions: Planet satellites. The solar system also includes the Moon and the natural satellites of other planets, which all of them have, except for Mercury and Venus. More than 60 satellites are known. Most of the satellites of the outer planets were discovered when they received photographs taken by robotic spacecraft. Jupiter's smallest moon, Leda, is only 10 km across. is a star, without which life on Earth could not exist. It gives us energy and warmth. According to the classification of stars, the Sun is a yellow dwarf. The age is about 5 billion years. It has a diameter at the equator equal to 1,392,000 km, 109 times larger than the earth. The rotation period at the equator is 25.4 days and 34 days at the poles. The mass of the Sun is 2x10 to the 27th power of tons, approximately 332950 times the mass of the Earth. The temperature inside the core is about 15 million degrees Celsius. The surface temperature is about 5500 degrees Celsius. According to the chemical composition, the Sun consists of 75% hydrogen, and of the other 25% of the elements, most of all helium. Now let's figure out in order how many planets revolve around the sun, in the solar system and the characteristics of the planets. The four inner planets (nearest to the Sun) - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars - have a solid surface. They are smaller than four giant planets. Mercury moves faster than other planets, being burned by the sun's rays during the day and freezing at night.  Period of revolution around the Sun: 87.97 days. Diameter at the equator: 4878 km. Rotation period (turn around the axis): 58 days. Surface temperature: 350 during the day and -170 at night. Atmosphere: very rarefied, helium. How many satellites: 0. The main satellites of the planet: 0. More like the Earth in size and brightness. Observation of it is difficult because of the clouds enveloping it. The surface is a hot rocky desert. Apparently, the Earth was formed from a gas and dust cloud, like other planets. Particles of gas and dust, colliding, gradually "raised" the planet. The temperature on the surface reached 5000 degrees Celsius. Then the Earth cooled down and became covered with a hard stone crust. But the temperature in the depths is still quite high - 4500 degrees. Rocks in the bowels are molten and pour out to the surface during volcanic eruptions. Only on earth there is water. That's why life exists here. It is located relatively close to the Sun to receive the necessary heat and light, but far enough away so as not to burn out.  Period of revolution around the Sun: 365.3 days. Diameter at the equator: 12756 km. The period of rotation of the planet (rotation around the axis): 23 hours 56 minutes. Surface temperature: 22 degrees (average). Atmosphere: mostly nitrogen and oxygen. Number of satellites: 1. The main satellites of the planet: the Moon. Due to the similarity with the Earth, it was believed that life exists here. But the spacecraft that landed on the surface of Mars found no signs of life. This is the fourth planet in order. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are made up of hydrogen and other gases. Jupiter is more than 10 times larger than Earth in diameter, 300 times in mass and 1300 times in volume. It is more than twice as massive as all the planets in the solar system combined. How much planet Jupiter does it take to become a star? It is necessary to increase its mass by 75 times!  The period of revolution around the Sun: 11 years 314 days. Diameter of the planet at the equator: 143884 km. Rotation period (turn around the axis): 9 hours 55 minutes. Surface temperature of the planet: -150 degrees (average). Number of satellites: 16 (+ rings). The main satellites of the planets in order: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto. This is the number 2 largest of the planets in the solar system. Saturn draws attention to itself thanks to a system of rings formed from ice, rocks and dust that orbit the planet. There are three main rings with an outer diameter of 270,000 km, but their thickness is about 30 meters. Unique planet in the solar system. Its peculiarity is that it revolves around the Sun not like everyone else, but "lying on its side." Uranus also has rings, although they are harder to see. In 1986, Voyager 2 flew 64,000 km and had six hours of photography, which it successfully completed.  Orbital period: 84 years 4 days. Diameter at the equator: 51118 km. The period of rotation of the planet (rotation around the axis): 17 hours 14 minutes. Surface temperature: -214 degrees (average). Atmosphere: mostly hydrogen and helium. How many satellites: 15 (+ rings). Main satellites: Titania, Oberon. At the moment, Neptune is considered the last planet in the solar system. Its discovery took place by the method of mathematical calculations, and then they saw it through a telescope. In 1989, Voyager 2 flew by. He took amazing photographs of the blue surface of Neptune and its largest moon, Triton. On August 24, 2006, Pluto lost planetary status. The International Astronomical Union has decided which celestial body should be considered a planet. Pluto does not meet the requirements of the new formulation and loses its "planetary status", at the same time, Pluto passes into a new quality and becomes the prototype of a separate class of dwarf planets. How did the planets appear? Approximately 5-6 billion years ago, one of the gas and dust clouds of our large Galaxy (the Milky Way), which has the shape of a disk, began to shrink towards the center, gradually forming the current Sun. Further, according to one of the theories, under the influence of powerful forces of attraction, a large number of dust and gas particles rotating around the Sun began to stick together into balls - forming future planets. According to another theory, the gas and dust cloud immediately broke up into separate clusters of particles, which compressed and condensed, forming the current planets. Now 8 planets revolve around the sun constantly.  
|
Period of revolution around the Sun: 224.7 days. 
Period of revolution around the Sun: 687 days. 
The period of revolution around the Sun: 29 years 168 days. 
The period of revolution around the Sun: 164 years 292 days.