Solar System

Solar System is the assemblage created by the Sun, 8 planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune), their respective moons & other minor or dwarf planets.

Mercury

Mercury is named after the Greco - Roman messenger of Gods. He was very swift. Mercury has shortest & fastest orbit around the sun. Mercury orbits the Sun nearly every 88 Earth days. It goes around every 58.6 days, giving it 1 full day & a part of a rotation every Mercury year.

Venus

Venus is the 2nd planet from sun. This planet was named for Roman goddess of love. The mass of mercury is about 80 percent that of Earth & it has about 85 percent of Earth’s volume, making it a little less dense than the Earth.

Earth

Earth is the 3rd planet from sun. It is the only planet known to have life. About 70 percent of Earth is covered by water. Earth has 1 moon, sometimes known as Luna. Its moon is the largest moon of inner planet.

Mars

Mars is the 2nd smallest planet in solar system since the relegation of Pluto from planethood. Mars planet is named for Greco - Roman god of war. Mars has 2 moons, Diemos and Phobos. Mars doesn’t have liquid water on its surface.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. If we combine all other planets in the solar system together, Jupiter would still have 2 ½ times their mass.

Saturn

Saturn is another massive planet in solar system after Jupiter. The days of Saturn are just under 11 hours long. Though, its year is 29½ Earth years long. Saturn is most famous for its rings.

Uranus

Uranus is named for the father of god Jupiter. It orbits the sun every Eighty four Earth years. It is generally composed of hydrogen with large percentage of helium.

Neptune

Neptune is the last of the official planets in solar system. It is named after the ancient Greco - Roman god of sea. Methane gas in the atmosphere of Neptune gives it deep, dark blue color.

Pluto & Plutoids

Pluto was forecasted before it was 1st spotted based on its gravitational consequence on Neptune. It was quickly categorized as the 9th planet. In the early 2000s, the detection of a number of dwarf planets caused a major split in astronomy. Pluto was declared as a dwarf planet. Some newly discovered dwarf planets are Eris, Quaoar, Sedna, Makemake & Haumea. Dwarf planets are called Plutoids.