Fascinating astronomy: interesting facts about the planets of the solar system. The planets of the solar system and their arrangement in order Briefly about the planets of the solar system

Fascinating astronomy: interesting facts about the planets of the solar system.  The planets of the solar system and their arrangement in order Briefly about the planets of the solar system

The solar system is a group of planets revolving in certain orbits around a bright star - the Sun. This luminary is the main source of heat and light in the solar system.

It is believed that our system of planets was formed as a result of the explosion of one or more stars and this happened about 4.5 billion years ago. At first, the solar system was a collection of gas and dust particles, however, over time and under the influence of its own mass, the Sun and other planets arose.

Planets of the solar system

In the center of the solar system is the Sun, around which eight planets move in their orbits: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Until 2006, Pluto also belongs to this group of planets, it was considered the 9th planet from the Sun, however, due to its considerable distance from the Sun and its small size, it was excluded from this list and called a dwarf planet. Rather, it is one of several dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt.

All the above planets are usually divided into two large groups: the terrestrial group and the gas giants.

The terrestrial group includes such planets as: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. They are distinguished by their small size and rocky surface, and in addition, they are located closer than the others to the Sun.

The gas giants include: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. They are characterized big sizes and the presence of rings, which are ice dust and rocky pieces. These planets are made up mostly of gas.

Mercury

This planet is one of the smallest in the solar system, its diameter is 4,879 km. In addition, it is closest to the Sun. This neighborhood predetermined a significant temperature difference. The average temperature on Mercury during the day is +350 degrees Celsius, and at night it is -170 degrees.

  1. Mercury is the first planet from the Sun.
  2. There are no seasons on Mercury. The tilt of the planet's axis is almost perpendicular to the plane of the planet's orbit around the Sun.
  3. The temperature on the surface of Mercury is not the highest, although the planet is located closest to the Sun. He lost first place to Venus.
  4. The first research vehicle to visit Mercury was Mariner 10. It conducted a series of demonstration flybys in 1974.
  5. A day on Mercury lasts 59 Earth days, and a year is only 88 days.
  6. On Mercury, the most dramatic temperature changes are observed, which reach 610 ° C. During the day, the temperature can reach 430 ° C, and at night -180 ° C.
  7. The force of gravity on the surface of the planet is only 38% of the Earth's. This means that on Mercury you could jump three times as high, and it would be easier to lift heavy objects.
  8. The first telescope observations of Mercury were made by Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century.
  9. Mercury has no natural satellites.
  10. The first official map of the surface of Mercury was published only in 2009, thanks to data obtained from the Mariner 10 and Messenger spacecraft.

Venus

This planet is the second from the Sun. In size, it is close to the diameter of the Earth, the diameter is 12,104 km. In all other respects, Venus is significantly different from our planet. A day here lasts 243 Earth days, and a year - 255 days. The atmosphere of Venus is 95% carbon dioxide, which creates a greenhouse effect on its surface. This leads to the fact that the average temperature on the planet is 475 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere also includes 5% nitrogen and 0.1% oxygen.

  1. Venus is the second planet from the Sun in the solar system.
  2. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, although it is the second planet from the sun. Surface temperature can reach 475°C.
  3. The first spacecraft, sent to explore Venus, was sent from Earth on February 12, 1961 and was called Venera-1.
  4. Venus is one of two planets that has a different direction of rotation than most planets in the solar system.
  5. The orbit of the planet around the Sun is very close to circular.
  6. The day and night temperatures of the surface of Venus are practically the same due to the large thermal inertia of the atmosphere.
  7. Venus makes one revolution around the Sun in 225 Earth days, and one revolution around its axis in 243 Earth days, that is, one day on Venus lasts more than one year.
  8. The first telescope observations of Venus were made by Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century.
  9. Venus has no natural satellites.
  10. Venus is the third brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and Moon.

Earth

Our planet is located at a distance of 150 million km from the Sun, and this allows us to create on its surface a temperature suitable for the existence of water in liquid form, and, therefore, for the emergence of life.

Its surface is 70% covered with water, and it is the only one of the planets that has such an amount of liquid. It is believed that many thousands of years ago, the steam contained in the atmosphere created the temperature on the Earth's surface necessary for the formation of water in liquid form, and solar radiation contributed to photosynthesis and the birth of life on the planet.

  1. Earth is the third planet from the sun in the solar system.a;
  2. One natural satellite revolves around our planet - the Moon;
  3. Earth is the only planet not named after a divine being;
  4. The Earth's density is the largest of all the planets in the solar system;
  5. The speed of the Earth's rotation is gradually slowing down;
  6. The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is 1 astronomical unit (a conventional measure of length in astronomy), which is approximately 150 million km;
  7. The earth has a magnetic field strong enough to protect living organisms on its surface from harmful solar radiation;
  8. The first artificial satellite The Earth under the name PS-1 (The simplest satellite - 1) was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Sputnik launch vehicle on October 4, 1957;
  9. In orbit around the Earth, compared with other planets, there is the largest number of spacecraft;
  10. The earth is the most big planet terrestrial group in the solar system;

Mars

This planet is the fourth in a row from the Sun and is 1.5 times more distant from it than the Earth. The diameter of Mars is smaller than Earth's and is 6,779 km. The average air temperature on the planet ranges from -155 degrees to +20 degrees at the equator. The magnetic field on Mars is much weaker than that of the Earth, and the atmosphere is quite rarefied, which allows solar radiation to freely affect the surface. In this regard, if there is life on Mars, it is not on the surface.

When surveyed with the help of rovers, it was found that there are many mountains on Mars, as well as dried riverbeds and glaciers. The surface of the planet is covered with red sand. Iron oxide gives Mars its color.

  1. Mars is located on the fourth orbit from the Sun;
  2. The Red Planet hosts the tallest volcano in the solar system;
  3. Of the 40 exploration missions sent to Mars, only 18 were successful;
  4. On Mars, the largest dust storms in the solar system;
  5. In 30-50 million years, a system of rings will be located around Mars, like that of Saturn;
  6. Fragments of Mars have been found on Earth;
  7. The sun from the surface of Mars looks half as large as from the surface of the Earth;
  8. Mars is the only planet in the solar system that has polar ice caps;
  9. Two natural satellites revolve around Mars - Deimos and Phobos;
  10. Mars does not have magnetic field;

Jupiter

This planet is the largest in the solar system and has a diameter of 139,822 km, which is 19 times larger than the earth. A day on Jupiter lasts 10 hours, and a year is approximately 12 Earth years. Jupiter is mainly composed of xenon, argon, and krypton. If it were 60 times larger, it could become a star due to a spontaneous thermonuclear reaction.

The average temperature on the planet is -150 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere is made up of hydrogen and helium. There is no oxygen or water on its surface. There is an assumption that there is ice in the atmosphere of Jupiter.

  1. Jupiter is located in the fifth orbit from the Sun;
  2. In the earth's sky, Jupiter is the fourth brightest object, after the Sun, Moon and Venus;
  3. Jupiter has the shortest day of all the planets in the solar system;
  4. In Jupiter's atmosphere, one of the longest and most powerful storms in the solar system, better known as the Great Red Spot, rages;
  5. Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, is the largest moon in the solar system;
  6. Around Jupiter is a thin system of rings;
  7. Jupiter was visited by 8 research vehicles;
  8. Jupiter has a strong magnetic field;
  9. If Jupiter were 80 times more massive, it would become a star;
  10. There are 67 natural satellites revolving around Jupiter. This is the largest figure in the solar system;

Saturn

This planet is the second largest in the solar system. Its diameter is 116,464 km. It is most similar in composition to the Sun. A year on this planet lasts quite a long time, almost 30 earth years, and a day is 10.5 hours. The average surface temperature is -180 degrees.

Its atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen and a small amount of helium. Thunderstorms and auroras often occur in its upper layers.

  1. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun;
  2. Saturn's atmosphere has some of the strongest winds in the solar system;
  3. Saturn is one of the least dense planets in the solar system;
  4. Around the planet is the most big system rings in the solar system;
  5. One day on the planet lasts almost one Earth year and is equal to 378 Earth days;
  6. Saturn was visited by 4 research spacecraft;
  7. Saturn together with Jupiter make up approximately 92% of the entire planetary mass of the solar system;
  8. One year on the planet lasts 29.5 Earth years;
  9. There are 62 known natural satellites revolving around the planet;
  10. Currently, the automatic interplanetary station Cassini is engaged in the study of Saturn and its rings;

Uranus

Uranus, computer artwork.

Uranus is the third largest planet in the solar system and the seventh from the Sun. It has a diameter of 50,724 km. It is also called the "ice planet", as the temperature on its surface is -224 degrees. A day on Uranus lasts 17 hours, and a year is 84 Earth years. At the same time, summer lasts as long as winter - 42 years. Such a natural phenomenon is due to the fact that the axis of that planet is located at an angle of 90 degrees to the orbit, and it turns out that Uranus, as it were, "lies on its side."

  1. Uranus is located in the seventh orbit from the Sun;
  2. The first to know about the existence of Uranus was William Herschel in 1781;
  3. Only one spacecraft has visited Uranus, Voyager 2 in 1982;
  4. Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system;
  5. The equatorial plane of Uranus is inclined to the plane of its orbit almost at a right angle - that is, the planet rotates retrograde, "lying on its side slightly upside down";
  6. The moons of Uranus bear names taken from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, not from Greek or Roman mythology;
  7. A day on Uranus lasts about 17 Earth hours;
  8. There are 13 known rings around Uranus;
  9. One year on Uranus lasts 84 Earth years;
  10. There are 27 known natural satellites revolving around Uranus;

Neptune

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. In its composition and size, it is similar to its neighbor Uranus. The diameter of this planet is 49,244 km. A day on Neptune lasts 16 hours, and a year is equal to 164 Earth years. Neptune belongs to the ice giants and for a long time it was believed that no weather events occur on its icy surface. However, it has recently been found that Neptune has raging eddies and wind speeds the highest of the planets in the solar system. It reaches 700 km / h.

Neptune has 14 moons, the most famous of which is Triton. It is known that it has its own atmosphere.

Neptune also has rings. This planet has 6.

  1. Neptune is the most distant planet in the solar system and occupies the eighth orbit from the Sun;
  2. Mathematicians were the first to know about the existence of Neptune;
  3. There are 14 moons circling Neptune;
  4. The orbit of Nepputna is removed from the Sun by an average of 30 AU;
  5. One day on Neptune lasts 16 Earth hours;
  6. Neptune has only been visited by one spacecraft, Voyager 2;
  7. Around Neptune there is a system of rings;
  8. Neptune has the second highest gravity after Jupiter;
  9. One year on Neptune lasts 164 Earth years;
  10. The atmosphere on Neptune is extremely active;

  1. Jupiter is considered the largest planet in the solar system.
  2. There are 5 dwarf planets in the solar system, one of which was reclassified as Pluto.
  3. There are very few asteroids in the solar system.
  4. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
  5. About 99% of the space (by volume) is occupied by the Sun in the solar system.
  6. One of the most beautiful and original places in the solar system is the satellite of Saturn. There you can see a huge concentration of ethane and liquid methane.
  7. Our solar system has a tail that resembles a four-leaf clover.
  8. The sun follows a continuous 11-year cycle.
  9. There are 8 planets in the solar system.
  10. The solar system is fully formed thanks to a large gas and dust cloud.
  11. Spacecraft flew to all the planets of the solar system.
  12. Venus is the only planet in the solar system that rotates counterclockwise on its axis.
  13. Uranus has 27 moons.
  14. The most big mountain- on Mars.
  15. A huge mass of objects in the solar system fell on the Sun.
  16. The solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy.
  17. The sun is the central object solar system.
  18. The solar system is often divided into regions.
  19. The sun is a key component of the solar system.
  20. The solar system was formed about 4.5 billion years ago.
  21. Pluto is the most distant planet in the solar system.
  22. Two regions in the solar system are filled with small bodies.
  23. The solar system is built contrary to all the laws of the universe.
  24. If we compare the solar system and space, then it is just a grain of sand in it.
  25. Over the past few centuries, the solar system has lost 2 planets: Vulcan and Pluto.
  26. Researchers claim that the solar system was created artificially.
  27. The only satellite in the solar system that has a dense atmosphere and whose surface cannot be seen due to cloud cover is Titan.
  28. The region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune is called the Kuiper belt.
  29. The Oort cloud is a region of the solar system that serves as the source of a comet and a long period of revolution.
  30. Every object in the solar system is held there by gravity.
  31. The leading theory of the solar system proposes the emergence of planets and satellites from a huge cloud.
  32. The solar system is considered the most secret particle of the Universe.
  33. There is a huge asteroid belt in the solar system.
  34. On Mars, you can see the eruption of the largest volcano in the solar system, which is called Olympus.
  35. Pluto is considered to be the outskirts of the solar system.
  36. Jupiter has a large ocean of liquid water.
  37. The Moon is the largest satellite in the solar system.
  38. The largest asteroid in the solar system is Pallas.
  39. The most bright planet Solar system - Venus.
  40. The majority of the solar system is made up of hydrogen.
  41. Earth is an equal member of the solar system.
  42. The sun heats up slowly.
  43. Oddly enough, the largest reserves of water in the solar system are in the sun.
  44. The plane of the equator of each planet in the solar system diverges from the plane of the orbit.
  45. The satellite of Mars with the name Phobos is an anomaly of the solar system.
  46. The solar system can amaze with its diversity and scale.
  47. The planets of the solar system are influenced by the sun.
  48. The outer shell of the solar system is considered the haven of satellites and gas giants.
  49. A huge number of planetary satellites of the solar system are dead.
  50. The largest asteroid, with a diameter of 950 km, is called Ceres.

The solar system is a planetary system that includes the central star - the Sun - and all the natural objects of space revolving around it. It was formed by gravitational compression of a gas and dust cloud about 4.57 billion years ago. We will find out which planets are part of the solar system, how they are located in relation to the Sun and their brief description.

Brief information about the planets of the solar system

The number of planets in the solar system is 8, and they are classified in order of distance from the Sun:

  • Inner planets or terrestrial planets- Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. They consist mainly of silicates and metals.
  • outer planets- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the so-called gas giants. They are much more massive than the terrestrial planets. The largest planets in the solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium; smaller gas giants, Uranus and Neptune, in addition to hydrogen and helium, contain methane and carbon monoxide in their atmospheres.

Rice. 1. Planets of the solar system.

The list of planets in the solar system in order from the sun is as follows: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. By listing the planets from largest to smallest, this order changes. The largest planet is Jupiter, followed by Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars and finally Mercury.

All planets revolve around the Sun in the same direction as the Sun's rotation (counterclockwise as viewed from the north pole of the Sun).

the biggest angular velocity Mercury possesses - it manages to make a complete revolution around the Sun in just 88 Earth days. And for the most distant planet - Neptune - the period of revolution is 165 Earth years.

Most of the planets rotate around their axis in the same direction as they revolve around the sun. The exceptions are Venus and Uranus, and Uranus rotates almost "lying on its side" (axis tilt is about 90 degrees).

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Table. The sequence of the planets in the solar system and their features.

Planet

Distance from the Sun

Period of circulation

Rotation period

Diameter, km.

Number of satellites

Density g / cu. cm.

Mercury

Terrestrial planets (inner planets)

The four planets closest to the Sun consist mainly of heavy elements, have a small number of satellites, and have no rings. They are largely composed of refractory minerals such as silicates that form their mantle and crust, and metals such as iron and nickel that form their core. Three of these planets - Venus, Earth and Mars - have an atmosphere.

  • Mercury- is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in the system. The planet has no satellites.
  • Venus- is close in size to the Earth and, like the Earth, has a thick silicate shell around the iron core and atmosphere (because of this, Venus is often called the "sister" of the Earth). However, the amount of water on Venus is much less than on Earth, and its atmosphere is 90 times denser. Venus has no satellites.

Venus is the hottest planet in our system, with surface temperatures exceeding 400 degrees Celsius. The most likely reason for such a high temperature is the greenhouse effect due to dense atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide.

Rice. 2. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system

  • Earth- is the largest and densest of the terrestrial planets. The question of whether life exists anywhere other than Earth remains open. Among the terrestrial planets, the Earth is unique (primarily due to the hydrosphere). Earth's atmosphere is radically different from the atmospheres of other planets - it contains free oxygen. The Earth has one natural satellite - the Moon, the only large satellite of the planets of the terrestrial group of the solar system.
  • Mars smaller than Earth and Venus. It has an atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide. On its surface there are volcanoes, the largest of which, Olympus, exceeds the size of all terrestrial volcanoes, reaching a height of 21.2 km.

Outer region of the solar system

The outer region of the solar system is the location of the gas giants and their satellites.

  • Jupiter- has a mass of 318 times more than the earth, and 2.5 times more massive than all the other planets combined. It consists mainly of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter has 67 moons.
  • Saturn- known for its extensive ring system, it is the least dense planet in the solar system (its average density is less than that of water). Saturn has 62 moons.

Rice. 3. Planet Saturn.

  • Uranus- the seventh planet from the Sun is the lightest of the giant planets. What makes it unique among other planets is that it rotates "lying on its side": the inclination of its axis of rotation to the plane of the ecliptic is approximately 98 degrees. Uranus has 27 moons.
  • Neptune is the last planet in the solar system. Although slightly smaller than Uranus, it is more massive and therefore denser. Neptune has 14 known moons.

What have we learned?

One of the interesting topics of astronomy is the structure of the solar system. We learned what names of the planets of the solar system are, in what order they are located in relation to the Sun, what are their distinctive features and brief characteristics. This information so interesting and informative that it will be useful even for children in grade 4.

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The solar system is a group of planets revolving in certain orbits around a bright star - the Sun. This luminary is the main source of heat and light in the solar system.

It is believed that our system of planets was formed as a result of the explosion of one or more stars and this happened about 4.5 billion years ago. At first, the solar system was a collection of gas and dust particles, however, over time and under the influence of its own mass, the Sun and other planets arose.

Planets of the solar system

In the center of the solar system is the Sun, around which eight planets move in their orbits: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Until 2006, Pluto also belongs to this group of planets, it was considered the 9th planet from the Sun, however, due to its considerable distance from the Sun and its small size, it was excluded from this list and called a dwarf planet. Rather, it is one of several dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt.

All the above planets are usually divided into two large groups: the terrestrial group and the gas giants.

The terrestrial group includes such planets as: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. They are distinguished by their small size and rocky surface, and in addition, they are located closer than the others to the Sun.

The gas giants include: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. They are characterized by large sizes and the presence of rings, which are ice dust and rocky pieces. These planets are made up mostly of gas.

Sun

The sun is the star around which all the planets and moons in the solar system revolve. It is made up of hydrogen and helium. The Sun is 4.5 billion years old and is only in the middle of its life cycle gradually increases in size. Now the diameter of the Sun is 1,391,400 km. In the same number of years, this star will expand and reach the orbit of the Earth.

The sun is the source of heat and light for our planet. Its activity increases or becomes weaker every 11 years.

Due to extremely high temperatures on its surface, a detailed study of the Sun is extremely difficult, but attempts to launch a special apparatus as close as possible to the star continue.

Terrestrial group of planets

Mercury

This planet is one of the smallest in the solar system, its diameter is 4,879 km. In addition, it is closest to the Sun. This neighborhood predetermined a significant temperature difference. The average temperature on Mercury during the day is +350 degrees Celsius, and at night it is -170 degrees.

If we focus on the earth's year, then Mercury makes a complete revolution around the sun in 88 days, and one day there lasts 59 earth days. It was noticed that this planet can periodically change the speed of its rotation around the Sun, its distance from it and its position.

There is no atmosphere on Mercury, in connection with this, asteroids often attack it and leave behind a lot of craters on its surface. Sodium, helium, argon, hydrogen, oxygen were discovered on this planet.

A detailed study of Mercury presents great difficulties due to its close proximity to the Sun. Mercury can sometimes be seen from Earth with the naked eye.

According to one theory, it is believed that Mercury was previously a satellite of Venus, however, this assumption has not yet been proven. Mercury has no satellite.

Venus

This planet is the second from the Sun. In size, it is close to the diameter of the Earth, the diameter is 12,104 km. In all other respects, Venus is significantly different from our planet. A day here lasts 243 Earth days, and a year - 255 days. The atmosphere of Venus is 95% carbon dioxide, which creates a greenhouse effect on its surface. This leads to the fact that the average temperature on the planet is 475 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere also includes 5% nitrogen and 0.1% oxygen.

Unlike the Earth, most of whose surface is covered with water, there is no liquid on Venus, and almost the entire surface is occupied by solidified basaltic lava. According to one theory, there used to be oceans on this planet, however, as a result of internal heating, they evaporated, and the vapors were carried away by the solar wind into outer space. Near the surface of Venus, weak winds blow, however, at an altitude of 50 km, their speed increases significantly and amounts to 300 meters per second.

There are many craters and hills on Venus, reminiscent of terrestrial continents. The formation of craters is associated with the fact that earlier the planet had a less dense atmosphere.

A distinctive feature of Venus is that, unlike the other planets, its movement does not occur from west to east, but from east to west. It can be seen from Earth even without the help of a telescope after sunset or before sunrise. This is due to the ability of its atmosphere to reflect light well.

Venus has no satellite.

Earth

Our planet is located at a distance of 150 million km from the Sun, and this allows us to create on its surface a temperature suitable for the existence of water in liquid form, and, therefore, for the emergence of life.

Its surface is 70% covered with water, and it is the only one of the planets that has such an amount of liquid. It is believed that many thousands of years ago, the steam contained in the atmosphere created the temperature on the Earth's surface necessary for the formation of water in liquid form, and solar radiation contributed to photosynthesis and the birth of life on the planet.

The peculiarity of our planet is that under the earth's crust there are huge tectonic plates that move, collide with each other and lead to a change in the landscape.

The diameter of the Earth is 12,742 km. An Earth day lasts 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds, and a year - 365 days 6 hours 9 minutes 10 seconds. Its atmosphere is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and a small percentage of other gases. None of the atmospheres of other planets in the solar system has such an amount of oxygen.

According to scientists, the age of the Earth is 4.5 billion years, about the same time its only satellite, the Moon, exists. It is always turned to our planet with only one side. There are many craters, mountains and plains on the surface of the Moon. It reflects very little. sunlight, so it can be seen from Earth in a pale moonlight.

Mars

This planet is the fourth in a row from the Sun and is 1.5 times more distant from it than the Earth. The diameter of Mars is smaller than Earth's and is 6,779 km. The average air temperature on the planet ranges from -155 degrees to +20 degrees at the equator. The magnetic field on Mars is much weaker than that of the Earth, and the atmosphere is quite rarefied, which allows solar radiation to freely affect the surface. In this regard, if there is life on Mars, it is not on the surface.

When surveyed with the help of rovers, it was found that there are many mountains on Mars, as well as dried riverbeds and glaciers. The surface of the planet is covered with red sand. Iron oxide gives Mars its color.

One of the most frequent events on the planet are dust storms, which are voluminous and destructive. Geological activity on Mars could not be detected, however, it is reliably known that significant geological events took place on the planet earlier.

The atmosphere of Mars is 96% carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen and 1.6% argon. Oxygen and water vapor are present in minimal quantities.

A day on Mars is similar in duration to that on Earth and is 24 hours 37 minutes 23 seconds. A year on the planet lasts twice as long as the earth - 687 days.

The planet has two moons Phobos and Deimos. They are small and uneven in shape, reminiscent of asteroids.

Sometimes Mars is also visible from Earth with the naked eye.

gas giants

Jupiter

This planet is the largest in the solar system and has a diameter of 139,822 km, which is 19 times larger than the earth. A day on Jupiter lasts 10 hours, and a year is approximately 12 Earth years. Jupiter is mainly composed of xenon, argon, and krypton. If it were 60 times larger, it could become a star due to a spontaneous thermonuclear reaction.

The average temperature on the planet is -150 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere is made up of hydrogen and helium. There is no oxygen or water on its surface. There is an assumption that there is ice in the atmosphere of Jupiter.

Jupiter has a huge number of satellites - 67. The largest of them are Io, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. Ganymede is one of the largest moons in the solar system. Its diameter is 2634 km, which is approximately the size of Mercury. In addition, a thick layer of ice is visible on its surface, under which there may be water. Callisto is considered the oldest of the satellites, since it is its surface that has the largest number of craters.

Saturn

This planet is the second largest in the solar system. Its diameter is 116,464 km. It is most similar in composition to the Sun. A year on this planet lasts quite a long time, almost 30 Earth years, and a day is 10.5 hours. The average surface temperature is -180 degrees.

Its atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen and a small amount of helium. Thunderstorms and auroras often occur in its upper layers.

Saturn is unique in that it has 65 moons and several rings. The rings are made up of small ice particles and rock formations. Ice dust perfectly reflects light, so the rings of Saturn are very clearly visible in a telescope. However, he is not the only planet to have a diadem, it is just less noticeable on other planets.

Uranus

Uranus is the third largest planet in the solar system and the seventh from the Sun. It has a diameter of 50,724 km. It is also called the "ice planet", as the temperature on its surface is -224 degrees. A day on Uranus lasts 17 hours, and a year is 84 Earth years. At the same time, summer lasts as long as winter - 42 years. Such a natural phenomenon is due to the fact that the axis of that planet is located at an angle of 90 degrees to the orbit, and it turns out that Uranus, as it were, "lies on its side."

Uranus has 27 moons. The most famous of them are: Oberon, Titania, Ariel, Miranda, Umbriel.

Neptune

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. In its composition and size, it is similar to its neighbor Uranus. The diameter of this planet is 49,244 km. A day on Neptune lasts 16 hours, and a year is equal to 164 Earth years. Neptune belongs to the ice giants and for a long time it was believed that no weather events occur on its icy surface. However, it has recently been found that Neptune has raging eddies and wind speeds the highest of the planets in the solar system. It reaches 700 km / h.

Neptune has 14 moons, the most famous of which is Triton. It is known that it has its own atmosphere.

Neptune also has rings. This planet has 6.

Interesting facts about the planets of the solar system

Compared to Jupiter, Mercury appears to be a dot in the sky. These are actually the proportions in the solar system:

Venus is often called the Morning and Evening Star, since it is the first of the stars visible in the sky at sunset and the last to disappear from visibility at dawn.

An interesting fact about Mars is the fact that methane was found on it. Due to the rarefied atmosphere, it is constantly evaporating, which means that the planet has a constant source of this gas. Such a source can be living organisms inside the planet.

Jupiter has no seasons. The biggest mystery is the so-called "Great Red Spot". Its origin on the surface of the planet is still not fully understood. Scientists suggest that it is formed by a huge hurricane that has been rotating at a very high speed for several centuries.

An interesting fact is that Uranus, like many planets in the solar system, has its own system of rings. Due to the fact that the particles that make up them reflect light poorly, the rings could not be detected immediately after the discovery of the planet.

Neptune has a rich blue color, so it was named after the ancient Roman god - the master of the seas. Due to its remote location, this planet was one of the last to be discovered. At the same time, its location was calculated mathematically, and over time it could be seen, and it was in the calculated place.

Light from the Sun reaches the surface of our planet in 8 minutes.

The solar system, despite its long and thorough study, is still fraught with many mysteries and mysteries that have yet to be revealed. One of the most fascinating hypotheses is the assumption of the presence of life on other planets, the search for which is actively continuing.

Our solar system itself is amazing, beautiful and hid for scientists Interesting Facts about the planets. Each planet is unique in its own way, it seems that we all know about them. But every year technology is getting better and astronomers are still making discoveries providing new interesting facts about the planets of the solar system. AT school curriculum in addition to information about the planets, interesting facts about the planets of the solar system were included. Then there were still 9 planets, but since 2006, the Astronomical Union excluded Pluto from this list. This is explained by the fact that this planet was too small in size and was very far from the sun. Now in its place is the planet Neptune. Oddly enough, the lightest planet is one of the giants - Saturn. There is a theory that if Saturn is placed in water, it will not sink. Of course, this statement cannot be confirmed in any way due to the impossibility of the experiment. There is a very curious fact about the Earth, the movement of the planet slows down every day, because of this, the Moon moves away from the Earth by 4 centimeters annually.

Let's look at each planet separately and interesting facts about them.

1. If we call the Earth a huge living organism, we will not be mistaken. Our planet is able to independently regulate the temperature, consume energy, renew itself and breathe.
2. The speed of our planet, although imperceptibly, is 107 km per hour.
3. The earth is compared to a metal ball, which is in a stone shell. The moon is playing key role in everything that concerns our planet. It is thanks to her that there are suitable climatic conditions that allows us all to exist.
4. It is very interesting that gravity in some parts of the planet is lower or higher than in others. This will make you feel like you are heavier or lighter in certain parts of the world. For example, in India, gravity is lower than in the southern part of the ocean. Scientists still cannot explain why this happens. This fact became known when in 2002 NASA launched the GRACE satellite, which measures the gravitational field. It seems that in the future, the Earth will open its secret veils even more.
5. Some researchers claim that the earth once had two satellites, that is, two moons.

Mercury closest to the sun

1. The planet, compared to others, is very fast, which is why it got its name in the name of the Roman fleet-footed god Mercury.
2. The size of the planet did not come out, it is no larger than the moon, the equator is only 4879 km.
3. Some scientists believe that it was once a satellite of Venus, but, as a result of a certain cosmic catastrophe, it "escaped" and acquired its own orbit.
4. 1 day on the planet is equal to 176 Earth days, and the year is only 88 days.
5. An amazing phenomenon can be observed on Mercury: two sunrises and two sunsets. In a certain place you can watch three sunrises and three sunsets.

Planet Venus - Evening Star

1. A day on this planet is longer than a year. One day is 243 ours, and a year is 225 days.
2. During sunset, you can see the shadow of Venus. It can be seen for only a few hours, which is why it was called the Evening Star.
3. It is very cloudy on this planet - that the sun cannot be seen through them. Rain is made up of sulfuric acid.
4. - the hottest planet, the temperature reaches 475 degrees Celsius. For example, lead melts at 327 degrees.
5. Life is impossible on this planet, for one main reason - the atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide.

Red Planet -

1. The planet got its name in honor of the Roman god of war Mars, just like the blood and the planet are of the same color.
2. The highest Mount Olympus in the solar system is on this planet. The height of the mountain reaches 27.4 km.
3. It is impossible to be on Mars without a space suit. Very strong pressure can turn blood into gas bubbles.
4. The lethal doses of radiation to which the planet is exposed also make life on Mars impossible. Radiations occur due to the absence of the ozone layer.
5. Mars once had water. Scientists have discovered dried up riverbeds and some minerals that cannot appear without water.

Gas giant Jupiter

1. If the earth is a cherry tomato, then Jupiter is a watermelon. So you can compare these two planets. Jupiter could fit 1300 planets like our Earth.
2. Despite the fact that it is a giant planet, it is also a fast planet itself. Jupiter rotates around its axis in 20 hours. But around the sun 12 years.
3. Jupiter has the largest number of satellites, there are only 60 of them, maybe more. All satellites rotate in the opposite direction of the planet.
4. There is a huge red spot on the planet, which is nothing but an anticyclone. It appeared about 400 years ago, and maybe more. It was discovered by astronomer J. Cassini in 1665, then its dimensions are determined by tens of thousands of kilometers in length and width. Now the spot has almost halved.
5. Jupiter knows how to "speak." The planet publishes very strange sounds speech-like. They are called electromagnetic voices.

Amazing planet - Saturn

1. Telescopes are not needed to see the planet. It is enough to look at the sky on a clear night, the most bright Star- this is .
2. Saturn is the most beautiful planet in the solar system. The surface of the planet has a blue tint, the rings are bright and truly beautiful.
3. Bad weather in Saturn is a frequent guest. They are similar to earth, only much stronger. During bad weather, huge funnels form on the surface of the planet.
4. Spaceship, which was sent to study Saturn, was able to remove the rarest phenomenon - Northern Lights. Prior to this, the northern lights were observed on the ground.
5. No matter how beautiful the planet is, it is not suitable for people. Since hydrogen is first in liquid, then goes into solid state, which means a terrible death for any person who got there - to be flattened.

Green

1. The planet was named after Greek god sky, and 27 satellites of Uranus were named after the heroes of the works of W. Shakespeare and A. Pope.
2. 80% of the planet is ice, so permafrost -200 degrees is a faithful companion of the planet.
3. The planet is surrounded by 13 rings, gloomy, there is an assumption that they came from the remains of the satellite of Uranus.
4. Due to the small amount of methane in the air of the planet, it has a green tint.
5. Terrible storms are frequent guests on the planet. Their size is equal to our North America.

"Sea" planet Neptune

1. is a giant ball of ice and gas. Probably has a stone core.
2. Because of its bright blue color, the planet was named Neptune after the Roman god of the sea. Why is the planet this color? There is no definite answer to this question. Some people think it's because high level methane, and some think that it is due to some extraterrestrial substance.
3. The atmosphere of the planet consists of hydrogen and helium.
4. The weather on the planet is terrible, sometimes the wind speed reaches 2 thousand km / h. Scientists still cannot explain why this happens. But on this planet there is water, in all its manifestations.
5. Neptune is the least explored planet in the solar system. In 2016, another ship headed for Neptune, but it will reach the planet only after 14 years. Maybe then the planet will open its veils a little.

Our galaxy is called the Milky Way and there are about a hundred billion planets in it. People have learned only a tiny part. It seems that the main astronomical discoveries and more interesting facts about the planets of other systems and galaxies are still ahead.

> Planets

Explore everything planets of the solar system in order and learn the names, new scientific facts and interesting features of the surrounding worlds with photos and videos.

There are 8 planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The first 4 belong to the inner solar system and are considered terrestrial planets. Jupiter and Saturn major planets The solar system and representatives of gas giants (huge and filled with hydrogen and helium), and Uranus and Neptune are ice giants (large and represented by heavier elements).

Previously, Pluto was considered the ninth planet, but since 2006 it has moved into the category of dwarf planets. This dwarf planet was first discovered by Clyde Tomb. Now it is one of the largest objects in the Kuiper belt - a cluster of icy bodies on the outer edge of our system. Pluto lost its planetary status after the IAU (International Astronomical Union) revised the concept itself.

According to the decision of the IAU, a planet of the solar system is a body that performs an orbital passage around the Sun, endowed with sufficient mass to form in the form of a sphere and clear the area around it from foreign objects. Pluto could not meet the last requirement, and therefore became a dwarf planet. Other similar objects include Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eridu.

With a small atmosphere, harsh surface features and 5 satellites, Pluto is considered the most complex dwarf planet and one of amazing planets in our solar system.

But scientists do not lose hope of finding the mysterious Ninth Planet - after they announced a hypothetical object in 2016 that affects bodies from the Kuiper belt by gravity. In terms of parameters, it is 10 times the mass of the Earth and 5,000 times more massive than Pluto. Below is a list of the planets of the solar system with photos, names, descriptions, detailed characteristics and interesting facts for children and adults.

Variety of planets

Astrophysicist Sergei Popov on gas and ice giants, binary star systems and single planets:

Hot planetary coronas

Astronomer Valery Shematovich on the study of gas shells of planets, hot particles in the atmosphere and discoveries on Titan:

Planet Diameter relative to Earth Mass, relative to the Earth Orbital radius, a. e. Orbital period, Earth years Day,
relative to the earth
Density, kg/m³ satellites
0,382 0,06 0,38 0,241 58,6 5427 No
0,949 0,82 0,72 0,615 243 5243 No
1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 5515 1
0,53 0,11 1,52 1,88 1,03 3933 2
0,074 0,000013 2,76 4,6 0,46 ~2000 No
11,2 318 5,20 11,86 0,414 1326 67
9,41 95 9,54 29,46 0,426 687 62
3,98 14,6 19,22 84,01 0,718 1270 27
3,81 17,2 30,06 164,79 0,671 1638 14
0,098 0,0017 39,2 248,09 6,3 2203 5
0,032 0,00066 42,1 281,1 0,03 ~1900 2
0,033 0,00065 45,2 306,28 1,9 ~1700 No
0,1 0,0019 68,03 561,34 1,1 ~2400 1

Terrestrial planets of the solar system

The first 4 planets from the Sun are called terrestrial planets because their surface is rocky. Pluto also has a solid surface layer (frozen), but it belongs to the dwarf type planets.

Gas giant planets of the solar system

4 gas giants live in the outer solar system, as they are quite huge and gaseous. But Uranus and Neptune are different because they more ice. Therefore, they are also called ice giants. However, all gas giants have one thing in common: they are all made up of hydrogen and helium.

The IAU put forward the definition of a planet:

  • The object must revolve around the sun;
  • Have enough mass to take the shape of a ball;
  • Clear your orbital path from foreign objects;

Pluto could not meet the latter requirement, as it shares an orbital path with a huge number of bodies from the Kuiper belt. But not everyone agreed with the definition. However, dwarf planets such as Eris, Haumea and Makemake appeared on the scene.

Ceres also lives between Mars and Jupiter. She was noticed in 1801 and considered a planet. Some still consider it the 10th planet of the solar system.

Dwarf planets of the solar system

Formation of planetary systems

Astronomer Dmitry Wiebe about stone planets and giant planets, the diversity of planetary systems and hot Jupiters:

Solar system planets in order

Below are the characteristics of the 8 major planets of the solar system in order from the sun:

The first planet from the Sun is Mercury

Mercury is the first planet from the Sun. It rotates in an elliptical orbit with a distance of 46-70 million km from the Sun. It spends 88 days on one orbital span, and 59 days on an axial span. Due to the slow rotation, a day spans 176 days. The axial tilt is extremely small.

With a diameter of 4887 km, the first planet from the Sun reaches 5% of the earth's mass. Surface gravity - 1/3 of the earth. The planet is practically devoid of an atmospheric layer, so it is hot during the day and freezes at night. The temperature mark fluctuates between +430°C and -180°C.

There is a crater surface and an iron core. But the magnetic field is inferior to the earth. Initially, radars indicated the presence of water ice at the poles. The Messenger confirmed the assumptions and found deposits at the bottom of the craters, which are all the time immersed in shadow.

The first planet from the Sun is located close to the star, so it can be seen before dawn and just after sunset.

  • Name: the messenger of the gods in the Roman pantheon.
  • Diameter: 4878 km.
  • Orbit: 88 days.
  • Day length: 58.6 days.

Second planet from the Sun - Venus

Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Travels in an almost circular orbit at a distance of 108 million km. It comes closest to the Earth and can reduce the distance to 40 million km.

It spends 225 days on an orbital path, and an axial rotation (clockwise) lasts 243 days. A day covers 117 Earth days. The axial tilt is 3 degrees.

In diameter (12100 km), the second planet from the Sun almost converges with the earth and reaches 80% of the earth's mass. The gravity indicator is 90% of the earth. The planet has a dense atmospheric layer, where the pressure is 90 times higher than the earth's. The atmosphere is filled with carbon dioxide with thick sulfur clouds, which creates a powerful greenhouse effect. It is because of this that the surface warms up by 460 ° C (the hottest planet in the system).

The surface of the second planet from the Sun is hidden from direct observation, but scientists managed to create a map using radar. Sheltered by large volcanic plains with two huge continents, mountains and valleys. There are also impact craters. A weak magnetic field is observed.

  • Detection: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
  • Name: Roman goddess responsible for love and beauty.
  • Diameter: 12104 km.
  • Orbit: 225 days.
  • Day length: 241 days.

Third planet from the Sun - Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is the largest and densest of the inner planets. The orbital path is 150 million km away from the Sun. It has a single companion and developed life.

The orbital flyby takes 365.25 days, and the axial rotation takes 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds. The length of the day is 24 hours. The axial tilt is 23.4 degrees, and the diameter index is 12742 km.

The third planet from the Sun was formed 4.54 billion years ago and the Moon has been nearby for most of its existence. It is believed that the satellite appeared after a huge object crashed into the Earth and pulled material into orbit. It was the Moon that stabilized the earth's axial tilt and acts as a source of tide formation.

The satellite in diameter covers 3747 km (27% of the Earth's) and is located at a distance of 362000-405000 km. Experiencing a planetary gravitational effect, due to which it slowed down the axial rotation and fell into the gravitational block (therefore, one side is turned towards the Earth).

The planet is protected from stellar radiation by a powerful magnetic field formed by an active core (molten iron).

  • Diameter: 12760 km.
  • Orbit: 365.24 days.
  • Day length: 23 hours and 56 minutes.

The fourth planet from the Sun is Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. The red planet moves along an eccentric orbital path - 230 million km. It spends 686 days on one flight around the Sun, and an axial rotation - 24 hours and 37 minutes. It is tilted at 25.1 degrees and a day lasts 24 hours and 39 minutes. The slope resembles the Earth, so it has seasons.

The diameter of the fourth planet from the Sun (6792 km) is half that of the earth, and the mass reaches 1/10 of the earth. The gravity indicator is 37%.

Mars is unprotected as a magnetic field, so the original atmosphere was destroyed by the solar wind. The devices recorded the outflow of atoms into space. As a result, the pressure reaches 1% of the earth's, and a thin atmospheric layer is represented by 95% carbon dioxide.

The fourth planet from the Sun is extremely frosty, where temperatures drop to -87°C in winter and rise to -5°C in summer. It is a dusty place with gigantic storms capable of covering the entire surface.

  • Detection: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
  • Title: Roman god of war.
  • Diameter: 6787 km.
  • Orbit: 687 days.
  • Day length: 24 hours and 37 minutes.

Fifth planet from the Sun - Jupiter

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun. In addition, in front of you is the largest planet in the system, which is 2.5 times more massive than all the planets and covers 1/1000 of the solar mass.

It is 780 million km away from the Sun and spends 12 years on an orbital path. It is filled with hydrogen (75%) and helium (24%) and may have a rocky core immersed in liquid metallic hydrogen with a diameter of 110,000 km. The total planetary diameter is 142,984 km.

AT top layer atmosphere are 50-kilometer clouds, represented by ammonia crystals. They are in lanes moving at different speeds and latitudes. The Great Red Spot, a large-scale storm, seems noteworthy.

The fifth planet from the Sun spends 10 hours on an axial rotation. This is a rapid speed, which means that the equatorial diameter is 9000 km more than the polar one.

  • Detection: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
  • Name: the main god in the Roman pantheon.
  • Diameter: 139822 km.
  • Orbit: 11.9 years.
  • Day length: 9.8 hours.

The sixth planet from the Sun is Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. Saturn is in the 2nd position in terms of scale in the system, exceeding the earth's radius by 9 times (57,000 km) and 95 times more massive.

It is 1400 million km away from the Sun and spends 29 years on an orbital flight. Filled with hydrogen (96%) and helium (3%). May have a rocky core in liquid metallic hydrogen with a diameter of 56,000 km. The upper layers are represented by liquid water, hydrogen, ammonium hydrosulfide and helium.

The core is heated up to 11700°C and produces more heat than the planet receives from the Sun. The higher we climb, the lower the degree drops. At the top, the temperature is kept at -180°C and 0°C at a depth of 350 km.

The cloud layers of the sixth planet from the Sun resemble the picture of Jupiter, but they are fainter and wider. There is also the Great White Spot, a brief periodic storm. It spends 10 hours and 39 minutes on an axial turn, but it is difficult to give an exact figure, since there are no fixed surface features.

  • Detection: The ancients saw without the use of tools.
  • Name: god of economy in the Roman pantheon.
  • Diameter: 120500 km.
  • Orbit: 29.45 days.
  • Day length: 10.5 hours.

The seventh planet from the Sun is Uranus

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. Uranus is a representative of the ice giants and is the 3rd largest in the system. In diameter (50,000 km) it is 4 times larger than the earth and 14 times more massive.

It is distant by 2900 million km and spends 84 years on the orbital path. Surprisingly, according to the axial tilt (97 degrees), the planet literally rotates on its side.

It is believed that there is a small rocky core around which a mantle of water, ammonia and methane is concentrated. This is followed by a hydrogen, helium and methane atmosphere. The seventh planet from the Sun is also distinguished by the fact that it does not radiate more internal heat, so the temperature mark drops to -224 ° C (the frostiest planet).

  • Discovery: Noticed by William Herschel in 1781.
  • Name: personification of the sky.
  • Diameter: 51120 km.
  • Orbit: 84 years old.
  • Day length: 18 hours.

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. Neptune has been the official last planet in the solar system since 2006. The diameter is 49,000 km, and in terms of massiveness it is 17 times larger than the earth.

It is distant by 4500 million km and spends 165 years on an orbital flight. Due to the remoteness, only 1% of solar radiation (compared to Earth) enters the planet. The axial tilt is 28 degrees, and the rotation is completed in 16 hours.

The meteorology of the eighth planet from the Sun is more pronounced than that of Uranus, so powerful storm actions can be seen at the poles in the form of dark spots. The wind accelerates to 600 m/s, and the temperature mark drops to -220°C. The core is heated up to 5200°C.

  • Discovery: 1846.
  • Title: Roman god of water.
  • Diameter: 49530 km.
  • Orbit: 165 years.
  • Day length: 19 hours.

This is a small world, inferior in size to the terrestrial satellite. The orbit intersects with Neptune and in 1979-1999. it could be considered the 8th planet in terms of distance from the Sun. Pluto will remain beyond the orbit of Neptune for more than two hundred years. The orbital path is tilted to the system plane by 17.1 degrees. Frosty World visited New Horizons in 2015.

  • Discovery: 1930 - Clyde Tombaugh.
  • Title: Roman god of the underworld.
  • Diameter: 2301 km.
  • Orbit: 248 years.
  • Day length: 6.4 days.

The ninth planet is a hypothetical object residing in the outer system. Its gravity should explain the behavior of trans-Neptunian objects.

It was first announced by Chad Trujillo and Scott Sheppard in 2014. In 2016 they were supported by Konstantin Batygin and Michael Brown. The predicted object should reach 10 Earth masses, and the orbital period - 15,000 years.

The planet has not yet been found and is difficult to detect due to the alleged remoteness. The theory has many supporters, but there are also desperate skeptics looking for other explanations. On our website you will find all the most interesting information about the planets of the solar system for children and adults. The table above lists the distances from the Sun to the planets in order. You can find out not only how many planets are in the solar system, but also get their maximum characteristics from a photo of the surface.

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