Since 2005, it is believed that there are eight planets in the solar system. This is due to the discovery of M. Browne, who proved that Pluto is a dwarf planet. Of course, the opinions of scientists are divided: some believe that this planet should not be classified as a dwarf planet, but it should be returned to its former title, while others agree with Michael. There are even opinions that have suggested increasing the number of planets to twelve. Because of these discrepancies, scientists had to draw up criteria by which space objects are classified as planets:
- They must make revolutions around the Sun.
- The mass of the planets in the solar system must be such as to allow an object to have gravity to keep it spherical.
- The object must clear the orbital path of unnecessary bodies.
Pluto failed when assessing it according to these criteria, for which he was excluded from the list of planets.
Mercury
Not far from the Sun is the first and closest planet to it - Mercury. The distance from it to the star is about 58 million kilometers. This object is considered the smallest planet in our system. Its diameter is only slightly more than 4800 kilometers, and the duration of one year (by earthly standards) is eighty-seven days, and fifty-nine days is the duration of one day on Mercury. The mass of a planet in the solar system is only 0.055 of the earth's mass, i.e. 3.3011 x 1023 kg.
The surface of Mercury resembles the Moon. An interesting fact is that this planet of our system has no satellites.
If a person weighs fifty kilograms on Earth, then on Mercury his weight will be about twenty. The temperature ranges from -170 to +400 °С.
Venus
The next planet is Venus. It is removed one hundred and eight million kilometers from the star. The diameter and mass of the planet of the solar system is close to our Earth, but still it is smaller. The mass of Venus is 0.81 of the earth's, i.e. 4.886 x 1024 kg. Here the year lasts two hundred and twenty-five days. Venus has an atmosphere, but it's filled with sulfuric acid, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
This space object is clearly visible from Earth in the evening and morning: because of the bright glow, Venus is often mistaken for a UFO.
Earth
Our native home is located at a distance of one hundred and fifty million kilometers from the luminary. Mass of a planet in the solar systemis 5.97 x 1024 kg. Our year has 365 days. The range of heating and cooling of the planet's surface is +60 to -90 degrees Celsius. The surface of the Earth is constantly changing: the percentage of land and water fluctuates. We have a satellite - the Moon.
On Earth, the atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen and other impurities. According to scientists, this is the only world where life exists.
Mars
From the Sun to Mars is almost three hundred million kilometers. This object has a different name - the Red Planet. It is obtained due to the reddish tint of the surface created by iron oxide. On the axis of inclination and rotation, Mars strongly resembles the Earth: seasonal patterns are also formed on this planet.
On its surface there are many deserts, volcanoes, ice caps, mountains, valleys. The atmosphere of the planet is very thin, the temperature drops to -65 degrees. The mass of a planet in the solar system is 6.4171 x 1024 kg. The planet makes a full turn around the sun in 687 Earth days: if we were Martians, then our age would be half that.
According to the latest data, due to the mass and size, this planet of the solar system began to refer to terrestrial objects.
There is no oxygen in the atmosphere, but there is nitrogen, carbon and other impurities. The soil contains a large amount of iron.
Jupiter
This is a huge body located at a distance of almost eight hundred million kilometers from the Sun. The giant is 315 times larger than the Earth. There are very strong winds here, the speed of whichreaches six hundred kilometers per hour. There are auroras that almost never stop.
The radius and mass of the planet of the solar system are impressive: it weighs 1.89 x 1027 kg, and its diameter is almost half a million kilometers (for comparison, the diameter of the Earth is only twelve thousand seven hundred kilometers).
Jupiter resembles a separate system, where the planet acts as a luminary, and dozens of objects revolve around it. This impression is created by numerous satellites (67) and moons. An interesting fact: if on Earth a person weighs about forty-five kilograms, then on Jupiter his weight will be more than a centner.
Saturn
Saturn is located at a distance of almost one and a half billion kilometers from the Sun. This is a beautiful planet with an unusual ring system. Saturn has layers of gas that are concentrated around the core.
The mass of the planet is 5.66 x 1026 kg. One revolution around the star takes almost thirty Earth years. Despite such a long year, the day here lasts only eleven hours.
Saturn has 53 moons, although scientists have managed to find nine more, but so far they have not been confirmed and do not belong to the moons of Saturn.
Uranus
At a distance of almost three billion kilometers is the beautiful giant planet Uranus. It is classified as an ice gas giant due to the composition of the atmosphere: methane, water, ammonia and hydrocarbons. A large amount of methane gives blueness.
A year on Uranus lasts eighty-four Earth years, but the length of a dayshort, only eighteen hours.
Uranus is the fourth largest planet in the solar system: it weighs 86.05x1024 kg. The ice giant has twenty-seven moons and a small ring system.
Neptune
Neptune is located at a distance of four and a half billion kilometers from the Sun. This is another ice gas giant. The planet has moons and a weak ring system.
The mass of the planet is 1.02 x 1026 kg. Neptune flies around the sun in one hundred and sixty-five years. The day here lasts only sixteen hours.
The planet has water, methane, ammonia, helium.
Neptune has thirteen satellites and one more has not yet received the status of the moon. In the ring system, scientists distinguish six formations. Only one artificial satellite could reach this planet - Voyager 2, launched into space many years ago.
The gas ice giants are very cold, temperatures drop to -300 degrees and below.
Pluto
Formerly the ninth planet of the solar system, Pluto has been able to maintain its status as a planet for a long century. However, in 2006 it was transferred to the status of a dwarf planet. Little is known about this object. Scientists cannot yet say exactly how long a year lasts here: it was discovered in 1930 and to this day it has traveled only a third of the orbital path.
Pluto has five moons. The diameter of the planet is only 2300 kilometers, but there is a lot of water here: according toAccording to scientists, it is three times more than on Earth. The surface of Pluto is completely covered with ice, among which ridges and dark small areas are visible.
Having considered the sizes and masses of the planets of the solar system in order, we can draw conclusions about how different they are. There are large objects, and there are small ones that look like ants near baseballs.
