Planets in the Solar System

Planets in the Solar System

The Mercury

Mercury is the nearest planet to the sun and it is the smallest planet in the solar system. It does not have any satellite. It rotates on its own axis in 58.65 earth days while it takes 88 Earth days to complete one revolution around the sun. Mercury is 0.4 astronomical units away from the Sun. The sunlight takes 3.2 minutes to travel from the Sun to Mercury. Mercury is the second hottest planet though it is nearest to the sun.

The Venus

‘Venus’ is the second nearest planet to the sun. It is also called as ‘Earth’s Sister’ planet due to its similar size and mass as that of our Earth. It is the hottest planet in the solar system and experiences a mean surface temperature of 462° C. It is popularly known as “Morning star and Evening star” It is seen in the east sky before sunrise (dawn) in the morning and in the west sky after the sunset (twilight). It rotates clockwise i.e. east to west direction on its own axis. The rotation and orbit of the Venus are unusual in several ways. Venus is one of just two planets that rotate from east to west. Only Venus and Uranus have this ‘backwards’ rotation. It completes one rotation in 243 Earth days which is the longest day of any planet in our solar system. The Venus takes 224.7 Earth days to complete one revolution around the sun, and it has no natural satellites. Venus is 0.7 astronomical units away from the sun. The sunlight takes 6 minutes to travel from the sun to Venus.

The Earth

Earth is the third nearest planet to the sun. It is the fifth largest planet in the solar system. The Earth’s orbit lies between the orbits of Venus and Mars. It takes 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds for the earth to complete one rotation on its own axis. The Earth takes 365.25 days (Table 2.1) to complete one revolution around the Sun. Earth’s surface temperature varies from – 88q to 58° C and it is the densest planet in the solar system.

The Earth is a unique planet because of its distance from the sun, its motions, atmosphere with oxygen, presence of water and moderate temperature. The earth is neither too close nor too far from the sun. It is the only known planet to support life. It is also known as the ‘Blue Planet’ because of the presence of water. Earth has only one natural satellite called the Moon. The sun light takes about 8.3 minutes to reach the earth.

The Mars

Mars is the fourth nearest planet to the sun and it is the second smallest planet in the Solar system. It is also described as the “Red planet”. It is reddish in colour due to the presence of iron oxide on its surface. The landmass of Mars and Earth are very similar. It takes 24 hours and 37 minutes to complete one rotation on its axis and its takes 687 days to complete one revolution around the Sun. The surface temperature of the Mars is ranging from -153q to 20° C. With the exception of the Earth, Mars probably is the most hospitable to life. This planet has seasons, polar ice caps, volcanoes, canyons and weather. Mars has two satellites namely Phobos and Deimos.

The Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It is made primarily of gases and is therefore known as ‘Giant Gas planet’. It takes 9 hours 55 minutes to complete one rotation on its axis and it takes 11.86 years to complete one revolution. Jupiter has the shortest day in the solar system. Jupiter has a faint ring system around it. They are mostly comprised of dust particles. Jupiter has 67 confirmed satellites orbiting the planet. Ganymede, the satellite of Jupiter, is the largest natural satellite in the solar system (even bigger than the planet Mercury).

The Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and the second largest planet in the solar system. Saturn is called as the Ringed Planet. It is because of large, beautiful and extensive ring systems that encircles the planet. These rings are mostly made from the chunks of ice and carbonaceous dust. Saturn is the only planet in our solar system whose average density is less than water.

The Saturn has 30 rings and 53confirmed natural satellites. The Saturn takes 10 hours 34 minutes to complete one rotation on its axis and it takes 29.4 years to complete one revolution around the sun.

The Uranus

Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun and it is not visible to the naked eye. Like Venus, Uranus also rotates on its axis from east to west. Uranus is inclined on its axis at an angle of 98 degrees. The planet is almost lying on its side as it goes around the sun. The sunlight, thus, is received mostly in the polar areas. Hydrogen, helium and methane are the major gases of its atmosphere. It is very cold due to its great distance from the sun. Uranus is named after the ancient Greek god of the sky. It has a dense atmosphere primarily consisting of methane, which lends it a bluish-green appearance. Uranus also has rings and twenty-seven satellites.

The Neptune

Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun. It takes 16 hours to complete one rotation on its own axis and it takes nearly 165 years to revolve around the sun. It has 13 natural satellites and 5 rings. It is the coldest planet in the Solar System because it is the farthest planet from the Sun. Neptune was the first planet located through mathematical calculations. Neptune is our solar system’s windiest planet.