The solar system consists of the sun and eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto used to be considered a planet but was re-classified as a “dwarf planet” in 2006 because it does not meet all the criteria for a planet. There are also many moons (natural satellites) orbiting around planets. For example, Earth has one moon called the Moon while Jupiter has 67 known moons!
Most planets orbit around the sun in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above the sun’s north pole. This is thought to be because the solar system formed from a cloud of gas and dust that was rotating in this direction. The four innermost planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – are called terrestrial planets because they have solid surfaces like our own planet Earth. The outer four planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – are called giant planets or Jovian planets because they consist mostly of gas and have much larger diameters than the terrestrial planets. However, even though they are large compared to terrestrial worlds such as Earth, they are still tiny compared to the sun! If you were standing on one of these giant worlds looking up at its star (the sun), it would appear only slightly larger than our moon appears when seen from Earth.
Mercury is closest to the Sun with an average distance of 58 million kilometres. It completes one orbit around the Sun (a year in Mercury time) in just 88 days! Because it is so close to the Sun mercury experiences very extreme temperatures ranging from -180°C (-292°F) at night to 430°C (806°F) during the day! The surface of Mercury is covered with craters just like our Moon which were caused by collisions with meteoroids over billions of years. Unlike our Moon however there is no atmosphere on Mercury meaning that any meteoroids that hit its surface create huge impact craters rather than being vaporized by an atmosphere as they would be on Earth..
Venus is often referred to as “Earth’s sister planet” because it is similar in size (95% of Earth’s diameter), mass (81% of Earth’s mass) and density (80% of Earth’s density). However that is where similarities pretty much end! Venus orbits slightly further away from then Sun than we do taking 225 days to complete one orbit. Its year therefore lasts longer than its day! A day on Venus lasts 243 earth days while a year lasts 224.7 earth days.. That means that if you were born on Venus you would celebrate your birthday once every 1½ years!! Another strange thing about Venusian timekeeping is that a solar day (daytime) lasts 117 earth minutes while a sidereal day (nighttime plus daytime) lasts 116 earth minutes.. So although each day contains more hours than each year there aren’t actually very many hours in either!
Venus also rotates very slowly taking 243 earth days to complete one rotation.. This slow rotation combined with its dense atmosphere results in some interesting weather patterns.. For example clouds completely cover venus obscuring our view of its surface features.. These clouds reflect and scatter light equally well in all directions making venus bright enough to be visible even during daylight hours if you know where look for it! Despite being closer to then Sun than we are venus isn’t actually very hot.. In fact it experiences lower temperatures then we do here on Earth averaging around 470 degrees Celsius at ground level.. One reason for this could be venus thick carbon dioxide Atmosphere which acts like a greenhouse gas trapping heat radiated from venus surface preventing it from escaping into space… Underneath these dense clouds lies venuses hellish Surface consisting mainly of volcanoes plains and highlands..
The third rock form Sol Isnt quite so hospitable boasting temperatures Ranging anywhere between -60 degrees celsius On chilly winter nights two +60 degrees celsius During balmy summer days… And thats just at sea level things get A whole lot hotter deeper down!. You see unlike other rocky worlds such As mercury or even mars whose cores Have long since cooled down leaving them Dead inside earths core remains nice And cozy thanks largely due To radioactive elements decaying within Itself generating enough heat two Keep things churning along nicely for Billions more years yet!. Although weve only been Monitoring seismic activity since 1900 Weve already located over 1500 Earthquakes most Of which occur along The rings OF fire circling pacific ocean Where tectonic plates collide Causing tremors felt across wide swathes Landmass… But dont worry these Shaky movements result more In spectacular natural displays Such geysers old faithful Than They do widespread destruction So rest easy next time You feel little rumbling underneath feet!.
While Our world might seem Big its actually quite small When Compared TO others out their particularly Gas giants Which can be Tens times larger Still!. Take jupiter FOR instance Whose diameter measures almost 11 Times That OF earth Making It big Enough two Swallow OUR ENTIRE PLANET Whole And still Have room Left Over For At Least couple More!. Even More Impressive Stats Include Its Mass Which tips Scales AT 318 times That OF EARTH Or 2½ Times THAT OF ALL OTHER Planets COMBINED making IT Heaviest Planet Solar System BY Far!. Not bad going considering Formed From Just same swirling Disk Material As All Other Worlds Out their including Tiny MERCURY AND MARS Who weigh IN AT Less Than ONE PERCENT Of Jupiters MASS EACH…. But How Did THIS Goliath Get SO Big? Well Most Blame ISOTROPIC RADIATION From Nearby YOUNG SUN Pummeling Away Any chance Growing Planet Had ORBITING Farther OUTWARDS FROM STAR Where IT WouldHave Been Safer…. Result IS Giant Gas Ball Like JUPITER WE See Today…. Although Some Scientists Also Believe Possibility Existed TwoForm Massive Rocky World SIMILAR TWO EARTH IN Inner Regions Solar System BEFORE BEING Knockout By SAME Process… Only Time Will Tell If Truth Lies Somewhere Between Two Stories But What Certain Is Jupiter Remains Most Fascinating Object Our Night Sky providing Us With Endlessly Mysteries Two Solve….