The Solar System-The Planets

The term solar system refers to the combination of the sun, planets, and other natural space objects around the sun. The sun forms the core of the system that has bounded every celestial object within the system by its strong interplanetary gravitation force. The largest objects that orbit around the sun are known as planets and there are multiple characteristics of the planets depending on their “Size, and the distance from the sun”. 

Overview of the Solar System

It is evident from the above discussion that the solar system consists mainly of planets and their satellites that revolve around the sun in different pathways known as “Orbits”. After the sun the most important object in the solar system is the planets. These are smaller celestial bodies from the sun that revolve around the sun without emitting light of their own. These masses move around the sun under the influence of the gravitational force of the “Sun”.

Planets and Celestial Bodies

It has been studied that there are eight planets in our solar system, each having a specific name and characteristic. The names of the planets are in ascending order of their distance from the sun, “Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune”. The sun’s solar system consists of eight planets and other celestial objects like “Asteroids, comets, and natural satellites”. The solar system is a part of the galaxy called the “Milky Way galaxy”. 

Characteristics of the planets

The characteristics of the planets can be listed as follows:

• A planet must always orbit a star; in this case, the “Sun” is the star.

• The mass of the body should be huge enough to have a gravitational field of its own and to maintain the shape of the body to be spherical.

• The object should also be big enough so that its gravity can clear away any other object of similar size near its orbit.

According to studies, it can be said that planets can be subdivided into multiple types by determining their “Mass regime” of them.

• Giant Planet: These types of planets are huge in sizes and mainly comprise gasses and ices in solidified form. 

• Ice giants: These Planets are a bit smaller in size than the giant planets, but possess the same composites and are totally frozen.

• Meso-planet: This planetary body is very small in size, the diameter of these planets ranges between 1000 to 5000 kilometers only.

• Planetary: These kinds of planets are known as “Brown Dwarf Planets”, having a peculiarity about their size. Their size varies from larger than an average planet size but smaller than the size of a star.

Specification of the planets of the Solar System

Mercury: The planet is the closest to the sun in the solar system and does have a very high atmospheric temperature. It does not have an atmosphere and is directly exposed to the sun’s heat. It has a solid surface having multiple craters like the moon. 

Venus: The planet is the second nearest planet to the sun and consists of a toxic atmosphere of carbon-di-oxide gas. The atmosphere contains sulfur clouds and enhances trapping the heat from the sun. Life is not possible on the planet because of toxic gasses.

Earth: The third distant planet from the sun that has the favorable stances to support life. The planet has a favorable atmosphere and minerals on its surface that promote life. One-fourth of the planet is water and the rest is covered with water.

Mars: The planet is not favorable for life growth as it has a very thin atmosphere. The surface of the planet is rocky, dry, and volcanic in nature. The surface is covered with red-colored dust that is blown away by winds all over the planet.

Jupiter: The largest planet in the solar system is mainly composed of gasses. It has an impenetrable atmosphere of toxic gasses. The planet faces harsh weather conditions like storms for hundreds of years. It does not have a solid surface.

Saturn: The second largest planet of the solar system has a ring of broken asteroid particles revolving around it. The planet has the thinnest atmosphere and is filled up with frozen gasses.

Uranus: The planet is a frozen planet consisting of ammonia, water, and other fluids based on a small core of rocks. The atmosphere is made of hydrogen and helium and hence life is impossible to originate in this kind of atmosphere.

Neptune: The planet has a thick and windy atmosphere and is encircled by three rings. The planet comprises non-life supporting gasses and is frozen in nature. It is a dark, cold, and windy planet.

It is believed that the planets and the celestial objects originated from the sun itself. It is because of the position of the planets in the solar system that is evitable on the Earth.

Conclusion

The solar system is the oldest phenomenon known to humans. The big bang theory has been the process of the creation of the solar system. The solar system is driven by one of the greatest forces of the universe, known as the gravitational force. It is this force that has bounded the planets with the sun.