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The solar system can be described as constituting the Sun along with everything else that is there with the Sun through gravitational attraction. This can include the various planets such as Earth, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus. Pluto – the dwarf planet is also a part of the solar system. All the asteroids, meteoroids and comets along with several moons are all part of the solar system.
Superior and Inferior Planets
A planet can be called anterior or inferior with regards to another planet if its orbit is inside the orbit of another planet around the Sun. Thus, in the solar system, one can say that the latter planet is superior in comparison to the former planet. Venus and Mercury are said to be the inferior planets. Jupiter, Uranus, Mars, Saturn and Neptune are said to be the superior planets. Pluto or Ceres, which are the dwarf planets, can be called superior along with the majority of the asteroids since most of them orbit external to the orbit of the Earth.
Thus, to better understand the superior planets one can say that these planets are further from the Sun in comparison to the Earth. On the other hand, the inferior planets are the ones that orbit nearer to the Sun in comparison to the Earth. Inferior planets go through phases, such as from crescent to full.
Inner and Outer Planet
Within the solar system, the diverse planets can be categorised into two distinguished categories – outer planets and inner planets. Inner planets can be described as the ones which are nearer to the Sun. These planets are smaller and rockier in comparison to other planets. On the other hand, the outer planets are the ones that are further distant from the Sun. These are majorly made of gas and are larger in comparison to the inner planets. Mercury, Earth, Venus and Mars can be called the inner planets. The outer planets can include Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Jupiter.
The inner planets are also popularly known as terrestrial planets. The name terrestrial planets are given to them because of their solid surfaces. Heavy material such as nickel and iron is what makes up these inner planets. Since inner planets are made up of heavy material, the movement is slow in comparison to the outer planets which are made up of helium and hydrogen gases and can move in a fast manner because of their low weight. Apart from this, because of being nearer to the Sun, inner planets are warmer in nature in comparison to the outer planets. Similarly, being nearer to the Sun, inner planets can take less time to complete a revolution around the Sun whereas outer planets, being distant from the Sun, can take more time for the same.
The average diameter of inner planets is around thirteen thousand kilometres whereas the average diameter for outer planets can be around forty-eight-thousand kilometres. Inner planets are said to be spinning slowly in comparison to the outer planets.
Conclusion
As observed from above, the understanding of the solar system has now become clearer. The solar system comprises the Sun along with everything else such as the planets, the asteroids, moons and more. Apart from this, topics such as inferior and superior planets along with the inner and outer planets have also been covered. A clear distinction has been made between the inner and outer planets in a lot of domains such as inner planets being closer to the Sun in comparison to the outer planets. The size, weight, time for orbiting around the Sun are also other ways in which the inner planets and the outer planets have been compared with one another. Thus, it can be concluded that the understanding of the solar system and the various planets are now clear.
