8 planets of the solar system. Solar system. Inner solar system

This is a system of planets, in the center of which is a bright star, the source of energy, heat and light - the Sun.
According to one theory, the Sun was formed together with the solar system about 4.5 billion years ago as a result of the explosion of one or more supernovae. Initially, the solar system was a cloud of gas and dust particles, which in motion and under the influence of their mass formed a disk, in which a new star, the Sun and our entire solar system, arose.

In the center of the solar system is the Sun, around which nine large planets revolve in orbits. Since the Sun is displaced from the center of planetary orbits, then during the cycle of revolution around the Sun, the planets either approach or move away in their orbits.

Terrestrial planets: and ... These planets are small in size with a rocky surface, they are closer to the Sun than others.

Planets giants: and ... They are large planets, mostly made of gas, and are characterized by rings of ice dust and many rocky pieces.

And here does not fall into any group, because, despite its location in the solar system, it is too far from the sun and has a very small diameter, only 2320 km, which is half the diameter of Mercury.

The planets of the solar system

Let's start a fascinating acquaintance with the planets of the solar system in order of their location from the sun, and also consider their main satellites and some other space objects (comets, asteroids, meteorites) in the gigantic expanses of our planetary system.

Rings and moons of Jupiter: Europa, Io, Ganymede, Callisto and others ...
The planet Jupiter is surrounded by a whole family of 16 satellites, each of which has its own, unlike other features ...

Rings and moons of Saturn: Titan, Enceladus and others ...
Not only the planet Saturn has characteristic rings, but also other giant planets. Around Saturn, the rings are especially clearly visible, because they consist of billions of small particles that revolve around the planet, in addition to several rings, Saturn has 18 satellites, one of which is Titan, its diameter is 5000 km, which makes it the largest satellite of the solar system ...

Rings and moons of Uranus: Titania, Oberon and others ...
The planet Uranus has 17 satellites and, like other giant planets, thin rings encircling the planet, which practically do not have the ability to reflect light, so they were discovered not so long ago in 1977 by accident ...

Rings and moons of Neptune: Triton, Nereid and others ...
Initially, before the exploration of Neptune by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, it was known about two satellites of the planet - Triton and Nerida. An interesting fact is that the satellite Triton has the opposite direction of orbital motion, and strange volcanoes were also discovered on the satellite, which spewed nitrogen gas, like geysers, spreading a dark mass (from a liquid state to vapor) for many kilometers into the atmosphere. During its mission, Voyager 2 discovered six more satellites of the planet Neptune ...

The planets of the solar system are arranged in order in the following sequence:
1 - Mercury. The smallest true planets in the solar system
2 - Venus. The description of hell was taken from her: terrible heat, evaporation of sulfur and the eruption of many volcanoes.
3 - Earth. The third planet in order from the Sun, our home.
4 - Mars. The most distant of the terrestrial planets of the solar system.
Then the Main asteroid belt is located, where the dwarf planet Ceres and the minor planets Vesta, Pallas, etc. are located.
Further in order are four giant planets:
5 - Jupiter. The largest planet in the solar system.
6 - Saturn with its famous rings.
7 - Uranus. The coldest planet.
8 - Neptune. This is the farthest "real" planet in order from the Sun.
But further curious:
9 - Pluto. A dwarf planet commonly referred to after Neptune. But Pluto's orbit is such that sometimes it is closer to the Sun than Neptune. For example, it was from 1979 to 1999.
No, Neptune and Pluto cannot collide :) - their orbits are such that they do not intersect.
The arrangement of the planets of the solar system in order in the photo:

How many planets are in the solar system

How many planets are in the solar system? This is not an easy answer. For a long time it was believed that there are nine planets in the solar system:
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

But, on August 24, 2006, Pluto ceased to be considered a planet. This was caused by the discovery of the planet Eris and other small planets of the solar system, in connection with which it was necessary to clarify which celestial bodies can be considered planets.
Several signs of "real" planets have been identified, and it turns out that Pluto does not fully satisfy them.
Therefore, Pluto was transferred to the category of dwarf planets, which include, for example, Ceres - the former asteroid number 1 in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

As a result, when trying to answer the question of how many planets are in the solar system, the state of affairs became even more confusing. Because besides "real" dwarf planets have now appeared.
But there are also small planets, which were called large asteroids. For example Vesta, asteroid number 2 in the aforementioned Main Asteroid Belt.
Recently, the same Eris, Make-Make, Haumeya and several other small planets of the solar system, data about which is insufficient and it is not clear what to consider them - dwarf or minor planets. Not to mention the fact that some small asteroids are mentioned in the literature as minor planets! For example, the asteroid Icarus, which is only about 1 kilometer in size, is often referred to as a minor planet ...
Which of these bodies should be considered when answering the question "How many planets are in the solar system" ???
In general, "we wanted the best, but it turned out as always."

It is curious that many astronomers and even ordinary people are "in defense" of Pluto, continuing to consider it a planet, sometimes arrange small demonstrations and diligently promote this idea on the Web (mostly abroad).

Therefore, when answering the question "how many planets are in the solar system", the easiest way is to say shortly "eight" and not even try to discuss something ... otherwise you will immediately find that there is simply no exact answer :)

The giant planets are the largest planets in the solar system

There are four giant planets in the solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Because these planets are located outside the main asteroid belt, they are called the "outer" planets of the solar system.
In size among these giants, two pairs are clearly distinguished.
The largest giant planet is Jupiter. Saturn is quite a bit inferior to him.
And Uranus and Neptune are sharply smaller than the first two planets and they are located farther from the Sun.
Look at the comparative sizes of the giant planets relative to the Sun:

The giant planets protect the inner planets of the solar system from asteroids.
If these bodies were not in the solar system, our Earth would be hundreds of times more likely to be subject to falling asteroids and comets!
How do the giant planets protect us from the falls of uninvited guests?

You can learn more about the largest planets of the solar system here:

Terrestrial planets

Terrestrial planets are the four planets of the solar system, similar in size and composition: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
Since one of them is Earth, all these planets were attributed to the terrestrial group. Their sizes are very similar, and Venus and Earth are generally almost the same. Their temperatures are relatively high due to their proximity to the Sun. All four planets are formed by rocks, while the giant planets are gas and ice worlds.

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in the Solar System.
It is generally accepted that it is very hot on Mercury. Yes, it is, the temperature on the sunny side can reach + 427 ° C. But, on Mercury there is almost no atmosphere, so on the night side it can be up to -170 ° C. And at the poles, due to the low Sun, a layer of underground permafrost is generally assumed ...

Venus. For a long time it was considered the "sister" of the Earth until Soviet research stations descended on its surface. It turned out to be real hell! The temperature is + 475 ° C, the pressure is almost a hundred atmospheres and the atmosphere is made of poisonous compounds of sulfur and chlorine. To colonize it, you will have to try very hard ...

Mars. The famous red planet. It is the farthest of the terrestrial planets in the solar system.
Like Earth, Mars has moons: Phobos and Deimos
Basically it is a cold, rocky and dry world. Only at the equator at noon can it get warmer up to + 20 ° С, the rest of the time - a fierce frost, up to -153 ° С at the poles.
The planet has no magnetosphere and cosmic radiation mercilessly irradiates the surface.
The atmosphere is very thin and not suitable for breathing, nevertheless, its density is enough for sometimes powerful dust storms to happen on Mars.
Despite all the flaws. Mars is the most promising planet for colonization in the solar system.

Read more about the terrestrial planets in the article The largest planets of the solar system

The largest planet in the solar system

The largest planet in the solar system is Jupiter. It is the fifth planet from the Sun, its orbit is behind the Main Asteroid Belt. Take a look at the size comparison between Jupiter and Earth:
Jupiter's diameter is 11 times that of Earth, and its mass is 318 times greater. Due to the planet's large size, parts of its atmosphere rotate at different speeds, so Jupiter's belts are clearly visible in the image. Below on the left is Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot, a huge atmospheric vortex that has been observed for several centuries.

The smallest planet in the solar system

Which planet is the smallest planet in the solar system? This is not such a simple question ...
Today it is generally accepted that the smallest planet in the solar system is Mercury, which we mentioned a little above. But, you already know that until August 24, 2006, Pluto was considered the smallest planet in the solar system.

More attentive readers may recall that Pluto is a dwarf planet. And there are as many as five of them. The smallest dwarf planet is Ceres, with a diameter of about 900 km.
But that's not all ...

There are also so-called minor planets, the size of which starts from only 50 meters. The 1-kilometer long Icarus and the 490-kilometer Pallas also fall under this definition. It is clear that there are many of them, and it is difficult to choose the smallest one due to the complexity of observations and calculation of sizes. So, when answering the question "what is the name of the smallest planet in the solar system", it all depends on what exactly is meant by the word "planet".

Or tell your friends:

It is no coincidence that every space object finds its place in space, billions of particles are formed into a single body over billions of years so that we can see this or that phenomenon in the starry sky. The names of the planets of the solar system in order from the star Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Knowledge of the order and structure of the nearest space objects is not only an indicator of a person's erudition, but also a way to expand knowledge about the world around us, which has a direct impact on each of us.

Nature, which includes objects in deep space, is a complex mechanism, each element of which is inextricably linked with other objects.

The solar system includes a group of objects revolving around one star - the Sun. It is part of the Milky Way galaxy.

Interesting Facts:

1. The approximate time since its formation is 4,570,000,000 years.
2. The sum of the masses of all elements of the system is about 1.0014 M☉ (solar mass).
3. The sum of the masses of the planets is 2% of the mass of the system.
4. Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars (the closest 4 objects to the luminary) include a large amount of silicates and metals, while more distant bodies - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are composed of hydrogen (H), methane and carbon monoxide gas.
5. 6 out of 8 have one or more satellites in their orbit.

Note! In addition to planets, the planetary mechanism includes numerous small bodies.

The figure shows a diagram of the solar system.

The arrangement of the planets of the solar system

Order and characteristics

After large extraterrestrial bodies were discovered in the Kuiper belt in 2006, it was decided to exclude Pluto from the list of planets. Pluto, like Eris, Haumea and Makemake, was reclassified as a group of dwarf planets.

Helpful video: what you need to know about the solar system?

The planets of the solar system

Astronomy is developing. Thanks to advances in physics and technical developments, the accuracy of remote research of various extraterrestrial bodies is increasing. What was previously available only in science fiction books is becoming more and more real every year. Let's consider all the planets of the solar system in order with names.

The sun

The sun is the central element of our planetary system.

Star Features:

• belongs to the category of yellow dwarfs of the class G2;
• the brightness of the luminary gradually increases;
• as a star of the 1st type of stellar population, formed at the late stages of the formation of the universe, the Sun is distinguished by a significant content of heavy elements (elements heavier than He and H);
• at the moment, several stars are known that are similar to the Sun in structure, age and composition.

The change in brightness, surface temperature and size of stars is clearly shown in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

The photo shows the Hertzsprung-Russell graph.

Hertzsprung-Russell Plot

Most of the known stars are less bright and emit less heat than the Sun (85%).

It should be noted that the Sun is in the middle of its development and its hydrogen supply has not yet come to an end.

Inner region of the solar system

This part of the cosmic mechanism includes the terrestrial group of cosmic bodies.

Specifications:

1. Small diameter (compared to the Sun and gas giants).
2. High structure density, solid surface, a variety of elements in the composition.
3. Have an atmosphere (excluding Mercury).
4. Similar structure, including core, mantle and crust (excluding Mercury).
5. The presence of a relief surface.
6. Absence or few satellites.
7. Weak attraction.

It is important to remember that each planet is unique and amazing in its own way.

The internal structure can be seen in the photo.

Mercury is the first extraterrestrial body from the Sun star.

Features:

• a revolution around the star takes 88 Earth days;
• the length of the day is 59 earth days;
• average daytime temperature +430 degrees, at night -170 degrees;
• lack of accompanying elements;
• impact craters and imposing blade ledges are observed on the surface of the object;
• rarefied atmosphere.

This is one of the most interesting planets solar system. The large size of the nucleus with a thin layer of bark on the surface can be considered surprising. According to one hypothesis, the light structures that previously covered Mercury were torn off as a result of a collision with another body, due to which the size of the planet decreased significantly.

Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It has a structure similar to our Earth, separating the mantle and the core.

Features:

• shows signs of internal activity;
• it has a high atmospheric density (90 times denser than the earth's);
• found a small amount of water on the surface;
• surface temperature more than +400 degrees;
• the length of a day on Venus is 243.02 Earth days;
• the rotation of Venus occurs in the opposite direction in comparison with most of the objects;
• does not have satellites.

Venus does not have a magnetic field, but due to the high density of the atmosphere, the planet does not deplete.

Earth

The Earth is the third object from the star and our home. A distinctive feature is the presence of a wide variety of living things.

Features:

• development of atmosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere;
• more than 70% of the surface is covered with water;
• the magnetic field is strong enough;
• 1 revolution around its axis is equal to 24 hours, a revolution around the star is 365 days;
• the presence of movable tectonic plates;
• satellite - the Moon;
• many parameters of extraterrestrial objects (mass, orbital time, surface area) are recorded relative to the corresponding indicators of our planet.

The existence of life on other space objects is not fully understood.

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, which is much smaller than Earth or Venus.

Features:

• a complete revolution around the star is 687 Earth days;
• has an atmosphere;
• has traces of water and ice caps at the poles;
• pressure 6.1 mbar (0.6% of the earth);
• volcanoes were discovered on the surface of Mars, the height of the largest of them (Olympus) is 21.2 km;
• revealed traces of geological activity;
• satellites - Deimos and Phobos.

Mars is the most studied space object in our planetary system after Earth.

Gas giants

The outer region of the planetary mechanism includes the gas giants, their moons, the Kuiper belt, the Scattered Disc, and the Oort clouds.

Features of gas giants:

1. Large size and weight.
2. They do not have a solid surface, they consist of substances in a gaseous state.
3. The core consists of liquefied metal H.
4. High rotation speed.
5. Pronounced gravitational field.
6. A large number of satellites.
7. The presence of rings.

Gas giants are significantly different from other planets in the solar system, it is difficult to imagine that life flows on them. Nevertheless, their presence is reflected, including on Earth. For example, the gravitational field of Jupiter attracts a significant number of cosmic bodies, the fall of which on the Earth's surface could lead to a catastrophe of immense proportions.

The internal structure is shown in the figure.

Internal structure

Jupiter is the first gas giant and the fifth planet from the Sun.

Features:

• contains H and He;
• high internal temperature detected;
• the period of revolution around the star is 4333 Earth days;
• the period of revolution around its axis is equal to 10 earth hours;
• the largest satellites - Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa differ in structure similar to the terrestrial group;
• the largest satellite, Ganymede (radius 2634 km), exceeds Mercury in size.

According to one of the theories, it is believed that Jupiter is a star that has stopped in its development. One of the important confirmation of this idea is the numerous satellites orbiting the gas giant according to the system model.

Saturn is the second gas giant and the sixth planet from the sun. A distinctive feature of the body is rings visible from a distant distance.

Features:

• a revolution around the star takes 10 759 Earth days;
• the length of the day is 10.5 earth hours;
• the least dense body in the system;
• the satellites Titan and Enceladus are distinguished by the presence of geological activity;
• saturn's moon Titan has an atmosphere and is larger than Mercury.

Earlier, the rings of Saturn were considered a unique phenomenon, but in the recent past, rings were found in all gas giants, even in one of Saturn's moons - Rhea.

Uranus is the lightest of the gas giants and the seventh planet from our main star.

Features:

• surface temperature -224 degrees;
• axis tilt - 98 °;
• a revolution around a star takes 30 685 Earth days;
• a revolution around its axis takes 17 Earth hours;
• the largest satellites are Titania, Oberon, Umbriel, Ariel and Miranda.

Interesting fact!Due to the inclination of rotation, Uranus gives the impression of rolling on one side.

Neptune

Neptune is the last, eighth planet from the Sun.

Unique facts about the celestial body:

• the revolution around the star occurs during 60 190 Earth days;
• wind speed can be up to 260 meters per second;
• the largest satellite, Triton, is distinguished by the presence of geological activity and geysers from liquid nitrogen, the atmosphere;
• Triton rotates in the opposite direction relative to other satellites.

An amazing fact is that Neptune is the only body in the system whose presence was determined by mathematical calculations. The position of the terrestrial planets and other gas giants was determined using powerful telescopes.

Planets of the solar system: planets of the solar system

Output

The Universe is boundless and amazing, there are many Galaxies and planets that humanity has yet to learn about. That is why one of the fundamental tasks of modern astronomy is the discovery of new, previously unexplored, space objects, and the determination of the possibility of the existence of other forms of life.

In contact with

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 is subject to 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 takes its definite 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 revolve with their natural satellites. Wandering objects - comets and asteroids complement the picture of a universal scale.

Our solar system is located in this endless cluster of stars - a tiny astrophysical object by cosmic standards, to which our cosmic home - planet Earth belongs. 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 - just 180 astronomical units, or 2.693e + 10 km. Here, too, everything is subject to its own laws, has its clearly defined place and sequence.

Brief characteristics and description

The interstellar medium and the stability of the solar system are provided by the location of the sun. Its location is an interstellar cloud that enters the Orion-Cygnus arm, which in turn is part of our galaxy. From a scientific point of view, our Sun is at the periphery, 25 thousand light years from the center of the Milky Way, if we consider the galaxy in the center plane. In turn, the movement of the solar system around the center of our galaxy is carried out in orbit. The 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 vicinity of our system, other stars and other solar systems with their large and small planets run 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 action of the same laws that operated and continue to operate today in the field of nuclear physics, thermodynamics and mechanics. First, a star was formed, around which, due to the centripetal and centrifugal processes taking place, the formation of planets began. The sun was formed from a dense accumulation of gases - a molecular cloud that was the product of a colossal Explosion. As a result of centripetal processes, the molecules of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and other elements were compressed into one solid 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. This long-term process, which began much earlier, we observe today, looking at our Sun after 4.5 billion years from the moment of its formation. The scale of the processes occurring during the formation of a star can be represented by evaluating the density, size and mass of our Sun:

• the density is 1.409 g / cm3;
• the volume of the Sun is practically the same figure - 1.40927x1027 m3;
• the mass of the star is 1.9885x1030kg.

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, 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 orbiting the Sun, in comparison with the mass of our star, are a drop in the sea.

In the form in which we have an idea of \u200b\u200bour star and the planets orbiting the Sun - this is a simplified version. For the first time, a mechanical heliocentric model of the solar system with a clockwork was presented to the scientific community in 1704. It should be borne in mind that the orbits of the planets of the solar system do not all lie in the same plane. They rotate around at a specific angle.

The solar system model was created on the basis of a simpler and older mechanism - tellurium, with the help of which the position and movement of the Earth in relation to the Sun was modeled. With the help of tellurium, it was possible to explain the principle of motion of our planet around the Sun, 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 occupy a certain place. It should be borne in mind that the orbits of all objects revolving around the Sun are located at different angles to the diametrical plane of the Solar system. The planets of the solar system are located at different distances from the sun, rotate at different speeds and revolve in different ways around their own axis.

A map - a diagram of the solar system - is a drawing where all objects are located in one plane. In this case, such an image only gives an idea of \u200b\u200bthe size of celestial bodies and the distances between them. Thanks to such an interpretation, it became possible to understand the location of our planet in a number of other planets, to estimate the scale of celestial bodies and to give an idea of \u200b\u200bthe huge distances that separate us from our celestial neighbors.

Planets and other objects of the solar system

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

If you ask yourself how many planets there were in the solar system and how many there are today, it is quite difficult to answer unequivocally. The exact location of 8 major planets is currently known. In addition, 5 small dwarf planets revolve around the Sun. The existence of the 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 are giants:

• Jupiter;
• Saturn;
• Uranus;
• Neptune.

All planets presented in the list differ in structure and have different astrophysical parameters. Which planet is bigger or smaller than 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 stone surface and are endowed with an atmosphere. Mercury, Venus, and Earth are the inner planets. Mars completes this group. It is followed by 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 was at the dawn of the formation of the solar system is strikingly different from what is studied today.

The astrophysical parameters of modern planets are evidenced by the table, which also indicates 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 there were more planets in the beginning. This is evidenced by numerous ancient myths and legends describing the presence of other astrophysical objects and catastrophes that led to the death of the planet. This is also confirmed by the structure of our star system, where along with the 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. Here, a huge number of objects of extraterrestrial origin are concentrated, mainly represented by asteroids and minor planets. It is these irregularly shaped debris in human culture that are considered the remnants of the protoplanet Phaethon, which perished billions of years ago as a result of a large-scale cataclysm.

In fact, it is believed 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 minor 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, today is not considered a full-fledged planet.

Pluto, which was previously ranked among the large planets of the solar system, is today translated into the size of dwarf celestial bodies orbiting the sun. Pluto, along with Haumea and Makemake, the largest dwarf planets, is in the Kuiper belt.

These dwarf planets in 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 even there, outer space is not empty. In 2005, the most distant celestial body in our solar system, the dwarf planet Eridu, was discovered there. The process of exploring the most distant regions of our solar system continues. The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, hypothetically, are the border regions of our star system, the visible border. This cloud of gas is located at a distance of one light-year from the Sun and is the region where comets, wandering companions 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, closest to the Sun. The heat of our star literally incinerates the surface of the planet, practically destroying the atmosphere on it. The distance from the planet's surface to the Sun is 57,910,000 km. In size, only 5 thousand km in diameter, Mercury is inferior to most of the large satellites dominated by Jupiter and Saturn.

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

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

The main difference between Mercury and all the planets of 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 an uncharacteristic quality did not allow Mercury to have its own natural satellites.

Behind 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 practically 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 rotation period of Venus around the Sun is 116 Earth days, and the planet revolves around its own axis extremely slowly. The average temperature of the surface of Venus rotating around its axis for 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 composed mainly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Both Mercury and Venus are the only planets in the solar system that are devoid of natural satellites.

The Earth is the last of the inner planets of the solar system, located at a distance of about 150 million km from the Sun. Our planet makes one revolution around the Sun in 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 the 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. The Earth is the most well-studied planet. Subsequent study is mainly of not only theoretical interest, but also practical.

The parade of the terrestrial planets is closed by Mars. The subsequent study of this planet is mainly of not only theoretical interest, but also practical, associated with the development of extraterrestrial worlds by man. Astrophysicists are attracted not only by the relative proximity of this planet to the 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 drops 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 solid planet in the solar system. Behind 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 in our solar system

The second group of planets that make up the system of our star has bright and large representatives. These are the largest objects in our solar system, which are considered outer planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the farthest from our star, and their astrophysical parameters are enormous by earthly standards. These celestial bodies differ in their massiveness and composition, which is mainly of a gaseous 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 in 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 in 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 ways, Jupiter is more like a failed star - a vivid 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 quickly enough - only 10 Earth hours. The number of satellites, of which 67 have been identified, 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 in one planet raises a new question, how many planets in the solar system were at the early stage of its formation. It is assumed that Jupiter, possessing a powerful magnetic field, turned some planets into their 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 inferior in size to Jupiter is its smaller brother - the gas giant Saturn. This planet, like Jupiter, is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, the gases that form 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 against 67. Saturn's moon Titan, as well as Io - Jupiter's moon - 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 motion of celestial bodies.

Behind the two gas giants are 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 the great 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 is the cold pole of our star system. On the surface of Uranus, an average temperature of -224 degrees Celsius is recorded. Uranus differs from other celestial bodies revolving around the Sun by a strong tilt of 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 are slowly and majestically moving 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 every planet, all satellites of the solar system, asteroids and other celestial bodies move along a clearly defined route. The laws of astrophysics operate here, which have not changed for 4.5 billion years. Dwarf planets move along the outer edges of our solar system 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 frequency of 20-150 years, flying in the visibility zone of our planet.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them