Since 2005, it is believed that there are eight planets in the solar system. This is due to the discovery of M. Brownie, who proved that Pluto is a dwarf planet. Of course, the opinions of scientists were divided: some believe that this planet should not be classified as dwarf, but that it should be returned to its former rank, while others agree with Michael. There are even opinions that suggested increasing the number of planets to twelve. Because of these discrepancies, scientists had to draw up criteria by which space objects are assigned to planets:
- They must make revolutions around the sun.
- The mass of the planets of the solar system must be such as to allow the object to have gravity that holds a spherical shape.
- The object must clear the orbital path of unnecessary bodies.
Pluto failed in evaluating it according to these criteria, for which it 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 the planet of the solar system is only 0.055 of the earth's mass, i.e. 3.3011 x 10 23 kg.
The surface of Mercury resembles the moon. An interesting fact is that this planet of our system does not have 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 ° C.
Venus
The next planet is Venus. She is one hundred 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, i.e. 4.886 x 10 24 kg. Here a year lasts two hundred twenty-five days. Venus has an atmosphere, but it is 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 UFOs.
Land
Our home is located from a star at a distance of one hundred and fifty million kilometers. The mass of the planet of the solar system is 5.97 x 10 24 kg. Our year lasts 365 days. The range of heating and cooling the surface of the planet is +60 to -90 degrees Celsius. The Earth's surface 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 there is life.
Mars
From the Sun to Mars, almost three hundred million kilometers. This object has another name - 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: on this planet, seasonality is also formed.
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 the planet of the solar system is 6.4171 x 10 24 kg. Around the star, the planet makes a complete turn in 687 earth days: if we were Martians, then our age would be half that.
According to recent data, due to mass and size, this planet of the solar system has become related to earthly 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, the speed of which reaches six hundred kilometers per hour. There are auroras that almost never cease.
The radius and mass of the planet of the solar system is impressive: it weighs 1, 89 x 10 27 kg, and the 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 star, and dozens of objects revolve around it. This impression is created by numerous satellites (67) and the moon. 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
At a distance of almost one and a half billion kilometers from the Sun is Saturn. This is a beautiful planet with an unusual ring system. Saturn has gas layers that are concentrated around the core.
The mass of the planet is 5.66 x 10 26 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 satellites, 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 a beautiful giant planet Uranus. It belongs to the ice gas giants due to the composition of the atmosphere: methane, water, ammonia and hydrocarbons. A large amount of methane gives blue.
A year on Uranus lasts eighty-four Earth years, but the duration of the day is short, only eighteen hours.
Uranus is the fourth largest planet in the solar system: it weighs 86, 05 x 10 24 kg. The ice giant has twenty-seven satellites, there is a small ring system.
Neptune
At a distance of four and a half billion kilometers from the Sun is Neptune. This is another icy gas giant. The planet has satellites and a weak ring system.
The mass of the planet is 1, 02 x 10 26 kg. Neptune flies around the sun in a hundred and sixty-five years. The day lasts only sixteen hours.
There are water, methane, ammonia, helium on the planet.
Neptune has thirteen satellites and another has not yet received moon status. In the ring system, scientists distinguish six formations. Only one artificial satellite, Voyager 2, launched into space many years ago, could fly to this planet.
Gas ice giants are very cold, here the temperature drops to -300 degrees and below.
Pluto
The former ninth planet of the Solar System Pluto has been able to maintain its planet status for a long century. However, in 2006 it was transferred to the status of dwarf planets. Little is known about this object. Scientists cannot yet say exactly how long the year lasts: it was opened in 1930 and to this day it has traveled only a third of the orbital path.
Pluto has satellites - there are five of them. The diameter of the planet is only 2300 kilometers, but there is a lot of water: according to scientists, it is three times more than on Earth. The surface of Pluto is completely covered with ice, among which one can see ridges and dark small areas.
Having examined 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.