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The solar system includes 8 planets and many other small bodies such as dwarf planets, comets, moons, meteors, and asteroids. The planets in the solar system are in order starting from the ones nearest to the sun to the ones that are outwards.
The order in which the 8 planets are fixed in the solar system is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and then Neptune. There was a 9th planet named Pluto which was designated as a ‘dwarf planet’ in 2006. Allegedly, there is a Planet 9 which is also called Planet X believed to be about 10 times the mass of planet Earth.
The different planets in the solar system
Mercury
Mercury is said to be the first of all the four terrestrial planets mostly made up of Rock. Mercury is the planet that is closest to the sun and also the smallest one. Mercury has no moon.
The diameter of mercury is about 4879 km and is 45.9 to 69 million kilometres away from the Sun. Along with this, a year in Mercury has 88 days.
About 3/4th of the mercury’s diameter is an iron core and most of the planet is made up of rocky crust. Since mercury is so close to the sun it is very difficult to see. However, it is also expected that a NASA mission called Messenger will help us learn a lot more about this planet.
2.Venus
Venus is said to be one of the most similar planets to Earth and is also mentioned as Earth’s “sister” planet.
The diameter of Venus is 1200 km and is about 108 million km from the Sun. Venus has no moons and a year in Venus has 225 days.
Since Venus and Earth are very close to each other we can see this planet in clear night skies. The environment on Venus doesn’t support life since its atmosphere mostly consists of carbon dioxide, which is a poisonous gas. The surface temperature of Venus is about 850°F (454°C).
3. Earth
Earth is the 5th largest planet in the solar system and is also one of the largest terrestrial planets. The earth is the only planet known in the solar system where life exists with 1.5 million species of plants and animals discovered so far.
The diameter of the Earth is about 12755 km and is 150 million km away from the Sun. Has one moon and has 365 days in a year.
It is believed that the planet earth is about 4.5 billion years old. Among all the solar system planets, Earth is said to be very young compared to other celestial bodies.
4. Mars
Mars is the only solar system planet that has part of the imagination but it might have life and human beings might survive there. However, there is no such proof provided by our scientists but there might be evidence that there is water on Mars.
Mars is also known as the red planet because of its reddish colour. The mass has two moons named Deimos and Phobos and is about 229 million kilometres away from the Sun. This planet in the solar system has a diameter of 6786km with a year that lasts up to 687 days.
5. Jupiter
Jupiter is the first of gas giant planets followed by Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The diameter of Jupiter is 11 times bigger than the Earth. Jupiter has a ‘Great Red Spot’ which is a raging storm.
Jupiter has 63 moons of different sizes and has a diameter of about 5472 km. Jupiter is about 779 million kilometres away from the Sun with a year that measures almost 12 Earth years. Jupiter has a code that is made up of liquid rock with a temperature of 23870°C.
6. Saturn
Saturn is one of the Giant gas planets which has rings around it made up of ice particles that are orbiting the planet. Saturn is the second-largest planet in the solar system and even being much farther from the Earth we can see it with a telescope.
Saturn has 56 moons and is 14290 million kilometres away from Earth. A year in Saturn is about 29.5 earth years and this solar system planet has a diameter of 120,537 km.
7. Uranus
Uranus was discovered in 1781 and is the first planet in the solar system which is so far away and can be seen with the use of a telescope. It takes 84 years for Uranus to complete an orbit of the Sun and it is the only planet that spins on its side.
Uranus has 21 moons and it is about 2,870,894,600km away from the sun with a diameter of 51,819 km.
8. Neptune
Neptune was discovered in 1843 and was named after the beautiful bright blue colour methane clouds that are around it. This is the most distant planet from the sun which takes 165 years to orbit it.
Neptune has 13 moons and is 4,498,033,400 km from the Sun. The diameter of Neptune is 49529 km and the length of a year in Neptune is about 165 Earth years.
Conclusion
Therefore, the solar system has eight planets and consists of other celestial bodies as well such as meteoroids and moons. All the planets in the solar system revolve around the sun and each revolution is considered to be a year completed by the planet.
