Our Solar System
Credits – Science Sparks
- There are a total of eight planets in our solar system.
- Nebula, out of which the Solar System was formed, started to collapse and resulted in the formation of planets 4.6 billion years ago.
- There is 1 sun, 8 planets, 60+ moons, and more than a million small bodies in the form of asteroids, comets.
- Along with this, we get huge quantities of gas and dust-grains.
- The planets are divided into two – Inner/Terrestrial Planets and Outer Planets.
- Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are inner/terrestrial planets.
- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune are outer/jovian planets.
- Jovian means Jupiter-like planets.
- Jovian planets are larger in size as compared to the Terrestrial planets, mostly made up of Helium and Hydrogen.
Difference between Terrestrial & Jovian Planets
| Terrestrial Planets | Jovian Planets |
| Terrestrial Planets are formed close to Star. Due to the heat of the Sun, the gas condenses to solid objects | Jovian Planets are at quite a distance from the Sun. |
| The gas and dust gets blown away in the terrestrial planets due to solar winds of the Sun | Since the solar winds are not that intense, the Jovian Planets have icy clouds around the planet |
| They are smaller with lower gravity | Escape of gas is minimal in these planets |
Brief about all the planets
Mercury
- It is the closest planet to the Sun.
- Temperature – 270 ºC to 427 ºC
- No atmosphere present.
Venus
- Closest to Earth
- Extremely hot planet with 480ºC temperature
- Atmosphere consists of 96% carbon dioxide, along with gasses like SO2 and CO.
Earth
- Earth is the only planet known to sustain life.
Mars
- Also called the Red Planet
- Composition of atmosphere – 95% CO and red dust.
- Relatively cold planet
Jupiter
- Largest planet in the Solar System.
- Has a rapidly spinning ball of gas.
- Composition includes Hydrogen and Helium.
- No solid surface is present in Jupiter.
Saturn
- Composition – Hydrogen and Helium, with 90% Nitrogen
- Temperature – Minus 184ºC
- Made up of highly poisonous gas – Hydrogen Cyanide.
- Has a ring of the same around
Uranus
- Extremely cold planet
- Has a tilted rotational axis
Neptune
- Last planet of our Solar system
- Cold and Dark
- Surface is coated with frozen methane.
