> Planets

Explore everything planets of the solar system in order and study the names, new scientific facts and interesting features of the surrounding worlds with photos and videos.

The solar system is home to 8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The first 4 belong to the inner solar system and are considered terrestrial planets. Jupiter and Saturn are the large planets of the solar system and representatives of the gas giants (huge and filled with hydrogen and helium), and Uranus and Neptune are ice giants (large and represented by heavier elements).

Previously, Pluto was considered the ninth planet, but since 2006 it has become a dwarf planet. This dwarf planet was first discovered by Clyde Tomb. It is now one of the largest objects in the Kuiper Belt, a collection of icy bodies on the outer edge of our system. Pluto lost its planetary status after the IAU (International Astronomical Union) revised the concept itself.

According to the IAU decision, a solar system planet is a body that performs an orbital passage around the Sun, endowed with sufficient mass to form into a sphere and clear the area around it of foreign objects. Pluto failed to meet the latter requirement, which is why it became a dwarf planet. Other similar objects include Ceres, Makemake, Haumea and Eris.

With a small atmosphere, harsh surface features and 5 moons, Pluto is considered the most complex dwarf planet and one of the most amazing planets in our solar system.

But scientists have not given up hope of finding the mysterious Planet Nine, after they announced in 2016 a hypothetical object that exerts its gravity on bodies in the Kuiper Belt. In terms of parameters, it is 10 times the mass of the Earth and 5000 times more massive than Pluto. Below is a list of planets of the solar system with photos, names, descriptions, detailed characteristics and interesting facts for children and adults.

Variety of planets

Astrophysicist Sergei Popov about gas and ice giants, double star systems and single planets:

Hot planetary coronas

Astronomer Valery Shematovich on the study of gaseous shells of planets, hot particles in the atmosphere and discoveries on Titan:

Planet	Diameter relative to the Earth	Mass, relative to Earth	Orbital radius, a. e.	Orbital period, Earth years	Day, relative to Earth	Density, kg/m³	Satellites
	0,382	0,06	0,38	0,241	58,6	5427	No
	0,949	0,82	0,72	0,615	243	5243	No
	1,0	1,0	1,0	1,0	1,0	5515	1
	0,53	0,11	1,52	1,88	1,03	3933	2
	0,074	0,000013	2,76	4,6	0,46	~2000	No
	11,2	318	5,20	11,86	0,414	1326	67
	9,41	95	9,54	29,46	0,426	687	62
	3,98	14,6	19,22	84,01	0,718	1270	27
	3,81	17,2	30,06	164,79	0,671	1638	14
	0,098	0,0017	39,2	248,09	6,3	2203	5
	0,032	0,00066	42,1	281,1	0,03	~1900	2
	0,033	0,00065	45,2	306,28	1,9	~1700	No
	0,1	0,0019	68,03	561,34	1,1	~2400	1

Terrestrial planets of the solar system

The first 4 planets from the Sun are called terrestrial planets because their surface is rocky. Pluto also has a solid surface layer (frozen), but it is classified as a dwarf planet.

Gas giant planets of the solar system

There are 4 gas giants living in the outer solar system, as they are quite huge and gaseous. But Uranus and Neptune are different because they have more ice. That's why they are also called ice giants. However, all gas giants have one thing in common: they are all made of hydrogen and helium.

The IAU has put forward a definition of a planet:

• The object must be orbiting the Sun;
• Have sufficient mass to take the shape of a ball;
• Clear your orbital path of foreign objects;

Pluto could not meet the latter requirement, since it shares its orbital path with a huge number of Kuiper Belt bodies. But not everyone agreed with the definition. However, dwarf planets such as Eris, Haumea and Makemake appeared on the scene.

Ceres also lives between Mars and Jupiter. It was noticed in 1801 and considered a planet. Some still consider it the 10th planet of the solar system.

Dwarf planets of the solar system

Formation of planetary systems

Astronomer Dmitry Vibe about rocky planets and giant planets, the diversity of planetary systems and hot Jupiters:

Planets of the Solar System in order

The following describes the characteristics of the 8 main planets of the Solar System in order from the Sun:

The first planet from the Sun is Mercury

Mercury is the first planet from the Sun. Rotates in an elliptical orbit at a distance of 46-70 million km from the Sun. It takes 88 days for one orbital flight, and 59 days for an axial flight. Due to its slow rotation, a day spans 176 days. The axial tilt is extremely small.

With a diameter of 4887 km, the first planet from the Sun reaches 5% of the Earth's mass. Surface gravity is 1/3 of Earth's. The planet is practically devoid of an atmospheric layer, so it is hot during the day and freezes at night. The temperature ranges between +430°C and -180°C.

There is a crater surface and an iron core. But its magnetic field is inferior to that of the earth. Initially, radar indicated the presence of water ice at the poles. The Messenger apparatus confirmed the assumptions and found deposits at the bottom of craters, which are always immersed in shadow.

The first planet from the Sun is located close to the star, so it can be seen before dawn and just after sunset.

• Title: Messenger of the gods in the Roman pantheon.
• Diameter: 4878 km.
• Orbit: 88 days.
• Length of day: 58.6 days.

The second planet from the Sun is Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Travels in an almost circular orbit at a distance of 108 million km. It comes closest to Earth and can reduce the distance to 40 million km.

The orbital path takes 225 days, and the axial rotation (clockwise) lasts 243 days. A day spans 117 Earth days. The axial tilt is 3 degrees.

In diameter (12,100 km), the second planet from the Sun is almost identical to the Earth’s and reaches 80% of the Earth’s mass. The gravity indicator is 90% of Earth's. The planet has a dense atmospheric layer, where the pressure is 90 times higher than Earth's. The atmosphere is filled with carbon dioxide with thick sulfur clouds, creating a powerful greenhouse effect. It is because of this that the surface warms up by 460°C (the hottest planet in the system).

The surface of the second planet from the Sun is hidden from direct observation, but scientists were able to create a map using radar. Covered by large volcanic plains with two huge continents, mountains and valleys. There are also impact craters. A weak magnetic field is observed.

• Discovery: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
• Name: Roman goddess responsible for love and beauty.
• Diameter: 12104 km.
• Orbit: 225 days.
• Day length: 241 days.

The third planet from the Sun is Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is the largest and densest of the inner planets. The orbital path is 150 million km away from the Sun. It has a single companion and developed life.

The orbital flyby takes 365.25 days, and the axial rotation takes 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds. The length of the day is 24 hours. The axial tilt is 23.4 degrees, and the diameter is 12742 km.

The third planet from the Sun was formed 4.54 billion years ago and for most of its existence the Moon was nearby. It is believed that the satellite appeared after a huge object crashed into the Earth and tore material into orbit. It is the Moon that stabilizes the Earth's axial tilt and acts as the source of the formation of tides.

The satellite's diameter covers 3,747 km (27% of Earth's) and is located at a distance of 362,000-405,000 km. Experiencing planetary gravitational influence, due to which it slowed down its axial rotation and fell into a gravitational block (therefore, one side is turned towards the Earth).

The planet is protected from stellar radiation by a powerful magnetic field formed by the active core (molten iron).

• Diameter: 12760 km.
• Orbit: 365.24 days.
• Day length: 23 hours and 56 minutes.

The fourth planet from the Sun is Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. The Red Planet moves along an eccentric orbital path - 230 million km. One flight around the Sun takes 686 days, and an axial revolution takes 24 hours and 37 minutes. It is located at an inclination of 25.1 degrees, and the day lasts 24 hours and 39 minutes. Its inclination resembles that of the Earth, which is why it has seasons.

The diameter of the fourth planet from the Sun (6792 km) is half that of Earth, and its mass reaches 1/10 of Earth’s. Gravity indicator – 37%.

Mars has no protection as a magnetic field, so the original atmosphere was destroyed by the solar wind. The devices recorded the outflow of atoms into space. As a result, the pressure reaches 1% of the earth's, and the thin atmospheric layer is represented by 95% carbon dioxide.

The fourth planet from the Sun is extremely frosty, with temperatures dropping to -87°C in winter and rising to -5°C in summer. This is a dusty place with giant storms that can cover the entire surface.

• Discovery: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
• Name: Roman god of war.
• Diameter: 6787 km.
• Orbit: 687 days.
• Day length: 24 hours and 37 minutes.

The fifth planet from the Sun is Jupiter

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun. In addition, this is the largest planet in the system, which is 2.5 times more massive than all the planets and covers 1/1000 of the solar mass.

It is distant from the Sun by 780 million km and spends 12 years on its orbital path. Filled with hydrogen (75%) and helium (24%) and may have a rocky core immersed in liquid metallic hydrogen with a diameter of 110,000 km. The total planetary diameter is 142984 km.

In the upper layer of the atmosphere there are 50-kilometer clouds, represented by ammonia crystals. They are in bands moving at different speeds and latitudes. The Great Red Spot, a large-scale storm, seems remarkable.

The fifth planet from the Sun spends 10 hours on its axial rotation. This is a rapid speed, which means the equatorial diameter is 9000 km larger than the polar one.

• Discovery: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
• Name: the main god in the Roman pantheon.
• Diameter: 139822 km.
• Orbit: 11.9 years.
• Length of day: 9.8 hours.

The sixth planet from the Sun is Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. Saturn is in 2nd position in terms of scale in the system, exceeding the Earth's radius by 9 times (57,000 km) and 95 times more massive.

It is distant from the Sun by 1400 million km and spends 29 years on its orbital flight. Filled with hydrogen (96%) and helium (3%). May have a rocky core in liquid metallic hydrogen with a diameter of 56,000 km. The upper layers are represented by liquid water, hydrogen, ammonium hydrosulfide and helium.

The core is heated to 11,700°C and produces more heat than the planet receives from the Sun. The higher we rise, the lower the degree drops. At the top, the temperature is maintained at -180°C and 0°C at a depth of 350 km.

The cloud layers of the sixth planet from the Sun resemble the picture of Jupiter, but they are fainter and wider. There is also the Great White Spot, a brief periodic storm. It spends 10 hours and 39 minutes on an axial rotation, but it is difficult to give an exact figure, since there are no fixed surface features.

• Discovery: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
• Name: god of economy in the Roman pantheon.
• Diameter: 120500 km.
• Orbit: 29.45 days.
• Length of day: 10.5 hours.

The seventh planet from the Sun is Uranus

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. Uranus is a representative of the ice giants and is the 3rd largest in the system. Its diameter (50,000 km) is 4 times greater than that of Earth and 14 times more massive.

It is distant by 2900 million km and spends 84 years on its orbital path. What’s surprising is that the planet’s axial tilt (97 degrees) literally rotates on its side.

It is believed that there is a small rocky core around which a mantle of water, ammonia and methane is concentrated. This is followed by a hydrogen, helium and methane atmosphere. The seventh planet from the Sun also stands out in that it does not radiate more internal heat, so the temperature mark drops to -224°C (the coldest planet).

• Discovery: In 1781, noticed by William Herschel.
• Name: personification of the sky.
• Diameter: 51120 km.
• Orbit: 84 years.
• Duration of the day: 18 hours.

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. Neptune has been considered the official last planet in the solar system since 2006. The diameter is 49,000 km, and its massiveness is 17 times greater than that of Earth.

It is distant by 4500 million km and spends 165 years on an orbital flight. Due to its remoteness, the planet receives only 1% of solar radiation (compared to Earth). The axial tilt is 28 degrees, and the rotation takes 16 hours.

The meteorology of the eighth planet from the Sun is more pronounced than that of Uranus, so powerful storm activity can be seen at the poles in the form of dark spots. The wind accelerates to 600 m/s, and the temperature drops to -220°C. The core heats up to 5200°C.

• Discovery: 1846
• Name: Roman god of water.
• Diameter: 49530 km.
• Orbit: 165 years.
• Duration of the day: 19 hours.

This is a small world, smaller in size than Earth's satellite. The orbit intersects with Neptune in 1979-1999. it could be considered the 8th planet in terms of distance from the Sun. Pluto will remain beyond Neptune's orbit for more than two hundred years. The orbital path is inclined to the system plane at 17.1 degrees. Frosty World visited New Horizons in 2015.

• Discovery: 1930 - Clyde Tombaugh.
• Name: Roman god of the underworld.
• Diameter: 2301 km.
• Orbit: 248 years.
• Length of day: 6.4 days.

Planet Nine is a hypothetical object residing in the outer system. Its gravity should explain the behavior of trans-Neptunian objects.

Its existence was first announced by Chad Trujillo and Scott Sheppard in 2014. In 2016, they were supported by Konstantin Batygin and Michael Brown. The predicted object should reach 10 Earth masses, and the orbital period should be 15,000 years.

The planet has not yet been found and is difficult to detect due to its supposed remoteness. The theory has many supporters, but there are also desperate skeptics looking for other explanations. On our website you will find all the most interesting information about the planets of the solar system for children and adults. The upper table shows the distances from the Sun to the planets in order. You can find out not only how many planets are in the solar system, but also get their maximum characteristics from a photo of the surface.

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Quick answer: 8 planets.

The solar system is a planetary system that includes the central star, which is the Sun, as well as all other natural space objects, which in turn revolve around the Sun.

Interestingly, most of the total mass of the solar system is accounted for by itself, while the rest is accounted for by 8 planets. Yes, yes, there are 8 planets in the solar system, and not 9, as some people believe. Why do they think so? One reason is that they mistake the Sun for another planet, but in fact it is the only star included in the solar system. But in reality everything is simpler - Pluto was previously considered a planet, but is now considered a dwarf planet.

Let's begin the review of the planets, starting with the one closest to the Sun.

Mercury

This planet was named after the ancient Roman god of trade - the fleet-footed Mercury. The fact is that it moves much faster than other planets.

Mercury completely revolves around the Sun in 88 Earth days, while the duration of one sidereal day on Mercury is 58.65 Earth days.

Relatively little is known about the planet, and one of the reasons is that Mercury is too close to the Sun.

Venus

Venus is the second so-called inner planet of the solar system, which was named after the goddess of love, Venus. It is worth noting that this is the only planet that received its name in honor of a female deity, rather than a male one.

Venus is very similar to Earth, not only in size, but also in composition and even gravity.

It is believed that Venus once had many oceans similar to the ones we have. However, some time ago the planet heated up so much that all the water evaporated, leaving behind only rocks. Water vapor was carried into outer space.

Earth

The third planet is Earth. It is the largest planet among the terrestrial planets.

It was formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago, after which it was almost immediately joined by its only satellite, which is the Moon. It is believed that life on Earth appeared about 3.9 billion years ago and over time its biosphere began to change for the better, which allowed the formation of the ozone layer, increased growth of aerobic organisms, etc. All this, among other things, allows us to exist now.

Mars

Mars closes the four terrestrial planets. The planet is named after the ancient Roman god of war, Mars. This planet is also called red because its surface has a reddish tint due to iron oxide.

Mars has surface pressure 160 times less than Earth's. On the surface there are craters similar to those that can be seen on the Moon. There are also volcanoes, deserts, valleys and even ice caps.

Mars has two satellites: Deimos and Phobos.

Jupiter

It is the fifth planet from the Sun and the first among the giant planets. By the way, it is the largest in the solar system, which received its name in honor of the ancient Roman supreme god of thunder.

Jupiter has been known for a long time, which is reflected in ancient myths and legends. Has a very large number of satellites - 67 to be exact. Interestingly, some of them were discovered several centuries ago. Thus, Galileo Galilei himself discovered 4 satellites in 1610.

Sometimes Jupiter can be seen with the naked eye, as was the case in 2010.

Saturn

Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system. It was named after the Roman god of agriculture.

It is known that Saturn consists of hydrogen with signs of water, helium, ammonia, methane and other heavy elements. An unusual wind speed was observed on the planet - about 1800 kilometers per hour.

Saturn has prominent rings that are mostly made of ice, dust, and other elements. Saturn also has 63 satellites, one of which, Titan, is larger than even Mercury.

Uranus

The seventh planet in terms of distance from the Sun. It was discovered relatively recently (in 1781) by William Herschel and was named after the god of the sky.

Uranus is the first planet to be discovered using a telescope between the Middle Ages and modern times. Interestingly, although the planet can sometimes be seen with the naked eye, before its discovery it was generally believed that it was a dim star.

Uranus has a lot of ice but no metallic hydrogen. The planet's atmosphere is composed of helium and hydrogen, as well as methane.

Uranus has a complex ring system and 27 satellites.

Neptune

Finally, we have reached the eighth and last planet of the solar system. The planet is named after the Roman god of the seas.

Neptune was discovered in 1846, and, interestingly, not through observations, but thanks to mathematical calculations. Initially, only one of its satellites was discovered, although the remaining 13 were not known until the 20th century.

Neptune's atmosphere consists of hydrogen, helium and possibly nitrogen. The strongest winds rage here, the speed of which reaches a fantastic 2100 km/h. In the upper layers of the atmosphere the temperature is about 220°C.

Neptune has a poorly developed ring system.

The endless 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 occupies its 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 with their natural satellites revolve. The picture of a universal scale is complemented by wandering objects - comets and asteroids.

In this endless cluster of stars our Solar System is located - a tiny astrophysical object by cosmic standards, which includes our cosmic home - planet Earth. For us earthlings, the size of the solar system is colossal and difficult to perceive. 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 characteristics and description

The interstellar medium and the stability of the Solar System are ensured by the location of the Sun. Its location is an interstellar cloud included in 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. A complete revolution 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 are running 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 same laws that operated and continue to operate today in the fields of nuclear physics, thermodynamics and mechanics. First, a star was formed, around which, due to the ongoing centripetal and centrifugal processes, the formation of planets began. The Sun was formed from a dense accumulation of gases - a molecular cloud, which was the product of a colossal Explosion. As a result of centripetal processes, 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. We observe this long process, which began much earlier, today, looking at our Sun 4.5 billion years after its formation. The scale of the processes occurring during the formation of a star can be imagined by assessing the density, size and mass of our Sun:

• density is 1.409 g/cm3;
• the volume of the Sun is almost the same figure - 1.40927x1027 m3;
• star mass – 1.9885x1030 kg.

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, compared to the mass of our star, are a drop in the bucket.

The way we have an idea of ​​our star and the planets revolving around the Sun is a simplified version. The first mechanical heliocentric model of the solar system with a clock mechanism was presented to the scientific community in 1704. It should be taken into account 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 simulated. With the help of tellurium, it was possible to explain the principle of the movement of our planet around the Sun and 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 occupies a certain place. It should be taken into account that the orbits of all objects revolving around the Sun are located at different angles to the central 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 differently around their own axis.

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 sizes of celestial bodies and the distances between them. Thanks to this interpretation, it became possible to understand the location of our planet among other planets, to assess the scale of celestial bodies and to give an idea of ​​the enormous distances that separate us from our celestial neighbors.

Planets and other objects of the solar system

Almost the entire universe is made up of myriads of stars, among which there are large and small solar systems. The presence of a star with its own satellite planets is a common occurrence in space. The laws of physics are the same everywhere and our solar system is no exception.

If you ask the question how many planets there were in the solar system and how many there are today, it is quite difficult to answer unequivocally. 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 planets presented in the list differ in structure and 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 rock surface and are endowed with an atmosphere. Mercury, Venus and Earth are the inner planets. Mars closes this group. Following it are 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 in the sky today are the arrangement of celestial bodies that the planetary system of our star has at the current moment. The state that existed at the dawn of the formation of the solar system is strikingly different from what has been studied today.

The astrophysical parameters of modern planets are indicated by the table, which also shows the distance of the planets of the Solar System to the Sun.

The existing planets of the solar system are approximately the same age, but there are theories that in the beginning there were more planets. This is evidenced by numerous ancient myths and legends that describe the presence of other astrophysical objects and disasters that led to the death of the planet. This is confirmed by the structure of our star system, where, along with 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. Objects of extraterrestrial origin are concentrated here in huge numbers, mainly represented by asteroids and small planets. It is these irregularly shaped fragments that are considered in human culture to be the remains of the protoplanet Phaeton, which perished 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 small planets Ceres and Vesta, which are the largest objects in the asteroid belt. Ice found on the surface of asteroids may indicate the cometary nature of the formation of these cosmic bodies.

Previously one of the major planets, Pluto is not considered a full-fledged planet today.

Pluto, which was previously ranked among the large planets of the solar system, is today reduced to the size of dwarf celestial bodies revolving around the Sun. Pluto, along with Haumea and Makemake, the largest dwarf planets, is located 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 space is not empty there either. In 2005, the most distant celestial body of our solar system, the dwarf planet Eris, was discovered there. The process of exploration of the most distant regions of our solar system continues. The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud are hypothetically the border 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 region where comets, the 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 its atmosphere. 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 large satellites, which are dominated by Jupiter and Saturn.

Saturn's satellite Titan has a diameter of over 5 thousand km, Jupiter's satellite Ganymede has a diameter of 5265 km. Both satellites are second in size only to Mars.

The very first planet rushes around our star at tremendous speed, making a full 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 differences are observed. While the surface of the planet facing the Sun heats up to 700 degrees Celsius, the back side of the planet is immersed in universal cold with temperatures up to -200 degrees.

The main difference between Mercury and all the planets in 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 this 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 cosmic home. The period of Venus' revolution around the Sun is 116 Earth days, and the planet rotates extremely slowly around its own axis. The average surface temperature of Venus rotating around its axis over 224 Earth days is 447 degrees Celsius.

Like its predecessor, Venus lacks 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.

Earth is the last of the inner planets of the solar system, located at a distance of approximately 150 million km from the Sun. Our planet makes one revolution around the Sun every 365 days. Rotates around its own axis in 23.94 hours. The Earth is the first of the celestial bodies located on the path 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 one.

Mars closes the parade of terrestrial planets. The subsequent study of this planet is mainly not only of theoretical interest, but also of practical interest, associated with human exploration of extraterrestrial worlds. Astrophysicists are attracted not only by the relative proximity of this planet to 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, has its own magnetic field, and temperature differences on the surface of Mars are not as critical as on Mercury and Venus.

Like 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 rocky surface in the solar system. Following the asteroid belt, which is a kind of inner boundary of the solar system, begins the kingdom of gas giants.

The largest cosmic celestial bodies of our solar system

The second group of planets that are part of the system of our star has bright and large representatives. These are the largest objects in our solar system, which are considered the outer planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the most distant from our star, huge by earthly standards and their astrophysical parameters. These celestial bodies are distinguished by their massiveness and composition, which is mainly gaseous in nature.

The main beauties of the solar system are Jupiter and Saturn. The total mass of this pair of giants would be quite enough to fit in it the mass of all known celestial bodies of 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 of 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 more closely resembles a failed star - a striking 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 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 were there in the Solar System at the early stage of its formation. It is assumed that Jupiter, having a powerful magnetic field, turned some 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 smaller in size than 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. Saturn's satellite Titan, like Io, a satellite of Jupiter, has 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.

Behind the two gas giants come the 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 enormous distance from our planet, Uranus and Neptune were discovered relatively recently. Unlike the other two gas giants, Uranus and Neptune contain large quantities of frozen gases - hydrogen, ammonia and methane. These two planets are also called ice giants. Uranus is smaller in size than Jupiter and Saturn and ranks third in the solar system. The planet represents the pole of cold 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 its strong tilt on 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 planet's spectrum.

Both planets move slowly and majestically around our star. Uranus orbits the Sun in 84 Earth years, and Neptune orbits our star twice as long - 164 Earth years.

Finally

Our Solar System is a huge mechanism in which each planet, all satellites of the Solar System, asteroids and other celestial bodies move along a clearly defined route. The laws of astrophysics apply here and have not changed for 4.5 billion years. Along the outer edges of our solar system, dwarf planets move in the Kuiper belt. Comets are frequent guests of our star system. These space objects visit the inner regions of the Solar System with a periodicity of 20-150 years, flying within visibility range of our planet.

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Pluto By decision of the MAC (International Astronomical Union) it no longer belongs to the planets of the Solar System, but is a dwarf planet and is even inferior in diameter to another dwarf planet Eris. Pluto's designation is 134340.

solar system

Scientists put forward many versions of the origin of our solar system. In the forties of the last century, Otto Schmidt hypothesized that the solar system arose because cold dust clouds were attracted to the Sun. Over time, clouds formed the foundations of future planets. In modern science, Schmidt's theory is the main one. The solar system is only a small part of a large galaxy called the Milky Way. The Milky Way contains more than one hundred billion different stars. It took humanity thousands of years to realize such a simple truth. The discovery of the solar system did not happen immediately; step by step, based on victories and mistakes, a system of knowledge was formed. The main basis for studying the solar system was knowledge about the Earth.

Fundamentals and Theories

The main milestones in the study of the solar system are the modern atomic system, the heliocentric system of Copernicus and Ptolemy. The most probable version of the origin of the system is considered to be the Big Bang theory. In accordance with it, the formation of the galaxy began with the “scattering” of the elements of the megasystem. At the turn of the impenetrable house, our Solar system was born. The basis of everything is the Sun - 99.8% of the total volume, the planets account for 0.13%, the remaining 0.0003% are the various bodies of our system. Scientists have accepted the division of planets into two conditional groups . The first includes planets of the Earth type: the Earth itself, Venus, Mercury. The main distinguishing characteristics of the planets of the first group are their relatively small area, hardness, and a small number of satellites. The second group includes Uranus, Neptune and Saturn - they are distinguished by their large sizes (giant planets), they are formed by helium and hydrogen gases.

In addition to the Sun and planets, our system also includes planetary satellites, comets, meteorites and asteroids.

Particular attention should be paid to the asteroid belts, which are located between Jupiter and Mars, and between the orbits of Pluto and Neptune. At the moment, science does not have an unambiguous version of the origin of such formations.
Which planet is not currently considered a planet:

From the time of its discovery until 2006, Pluto was considered a planet, but later many celestial bodies were discovered in the outer part of the Solar System, comparable in size to Pluto and even larger than it. To avoid confusion, a new definition of planet was given. Pluto did not fall under this definition, so it was given a new “status” - a dwarf planet. So, Pluto can serve as an answer to the question: it used to be considered a planet, but now it is not. However, some scientists continue to believe that Pluto should be reclassified back to a planet.

Scientists' forecasts

Based on research, scientists say that the sun is approaching the middle of its life path. It is unimaginable to imagine what will happen if the Sun goes out. But scientists say this is not only possible, but also inevitable. The age of the Sun was determined using the latest computer developments and it was found that it is about five billion years old. According to astronomical law, the life of a star like the Sun lasts about ten billion years. Thus, our solar system is in the middle of its life cycle. What do scientists mean by the word “will go out”? The sun's enormous energy comes from hydrogen, which becomes helium at the core. Every second, about six hundred tons of hydrogen in the Sun's core are converted into helium. According to scientists, the Sun has already used up most of its hydrogen reserves.

If instead of the Moon there were planets of the solar system:

The solar system is our cosmic region, and the planets in it are our homes. Agree, each house should have its own number.

In this article you will learn about the correct location of the planets, as well as why they are called this way and not otherwise.

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Let's start with the Sun.

Literally, the star of today's article is the Sun. They named him that, according to some sources, in honor of the Roman god Sol, he was the god of the heavenly body. The root “sol” is present in almost all languages ​​of the world and in one way or another gives an association with the modern concept of the Sun.

From this luminary begins the correct order of objects, each of which is unique in its own way.

Mercury

The very first object of our attention is Mercury, named after the divine messenger Mercury, distinguished by his phenomenal speed. And Mercury itself is by no means slow - due to its location, it rotates around the Sun faster than all the planets in our system, being, moreover, the smallest “house” revolving around our luminary.

Interesting Facts:

• Mercury revolves around the Sun in an ellipsoidal orbit, not a round one like other planets, and this orbit is constantly shifting.
• Mercury has an iron core, making up 40% of its total mass and 83% of its volume.
• Mercury can be seen in the sky with the naked eye.

Venus

"House" number two in our system. Venus was named after the goddess- the beautiful patroness of love. In size, Venus is only slightly inferior to our Earth. Its atmosphere consists almost entirely of carbon dioxide. There is oxygen in its atmosphere, but in very small quantities.

Interesting Facts:

Earth

The only space object on which life has been discovered is the third planet in our system. For living organisms to live comfortably on Earth, there is everything: suitable temperature, oxygen and water. The name of our planet comes from the Proto-Slavic root “-zem”, meaning “low”. Probably, it was called that way in ancient times because it was considered flat, in other words “low”.

Interesting Facts:

• Earth's satellite The Moon is the largest satellite among the satellites of the terrestrial planets - the dwarf planets.
• It is the densest planet among the terrestrial group.
• Earth and Venus are sometimes called sisters because they both have atmospheres.

Mars

The fourth planet from the Sun. Mars is named after the ancient Roman god of war for its blood-red color, which is not bloody at all, but, in fact, iron. It is the high iron content that gives the surface of Mars its red color. Mars is smaller than Earth, but has two satellites: Phobos and Deimos.

Interesting Facts:

Asteroid belt

The asteroid belt is located between Mars and Jupiter. It acts as a boundary between the terrestrial planets and the giant planets. Some scientists believe that the asteroid belt is nothing more than a planet that has shattered into fragments. But so far the whole world is more inclined to the theory that the asteroid belt is a consequence of the Big Bang that gave birth to the galaxy.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the fifth “house”, counting from the Sun. It is two and a half times heavier than all the planets in the galaxy combined. Jupiter is named after the ancient Roman king of the gods, most likely due to its impressive size.

Interesting Facts:

Saturn

Saturn is named after the Roman god of agriculture. The symbol of Saturn is the sickle. The sixth planet is widely known for its rings. Saturn has the lowest density of all the natural satellites orbiting the Sun. Its density is even lower than that of water.

Interesting Facts:

• Saturn has 62 satellites. The most famous of them: Titan, Enceladus, Iapetus, Dione, Tethys, Rhea and Mimas.
• Saturn's moon Titan has the most significant atmosphere of all the system's moons, and Rhea has rings, like Saturn itself.
• The composition of the chemical elements of the Sun and Saturn is most similar than that of the Sun and other objects in the solar system.

Uranus

The seventh "house" in the solar system. Uranus is sometimes called the “lazy planet” because it lies on its side during rotation - the tilt of its axis is 98 degrees. Also, Uranus, the lightest planet in our system, and its moons are named after the characters of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope. Uranus itself is named after the Greek god of the sky.

Interesting Facts:

• Uranus has 27 moons, the most famous of which are Titania, Ariel, Umbriel and Miranda.
• The temperature on Uranus is -224 degrees Celsius.
• One year on Uranus is equal to 84 years on Earth.

Neptune

The eighth and last planet of the solar system is located quite close to its neighbor Uranus. Neptune got its name in honor of the god of the seas and oceans. Apparently, it was given to this space object after researchers saw Neptune's deep blue color.

Interesting Facts:

About Pluto

Pluto has officially ceased to be considered a planet since August 2006. It was considered too small and declared an asteroid. The name of the former planet of the galaxy is not at all the name of some god. The discoverer of this now asteroid named this space object after his daughter’s favorite cartoon character, Pluto the dog.

In this article, we briefly looked at the positions of the planets. We hope you found this article useful and informative.