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Our solar system was created nearly 4.5 billion years ago,and is one of the thousands that exist in our universe the Milky Way. Our solar system includes our Sun, 8 planets, 5 official dwarf planets and millions and billions of stars, asteroids and more!
Our solar system was created nearly 4.5 billion years ago,and is one of the thousands that exist in our universe the Milky Way. Our solar system includes our Sun, 8 planets, 5 official dwarf planets and millions and billions of stars, asteroids and more!
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The Sun:
The sun is a star, a hot ball of glowing gases at the heart of our solar system. Without it, there would be no life on Earth. The Sun is 109 times bigger than Earth, with a diameter of about 1 400 129.28 kilometers and a mass of 1.9891 × 10(30) kilograms. The temperature on the Sun photosphere (its surface) is 10,000°C. The temperature at the core is about 27 million° Fahrenheit. Our whole solar system rotates around the Sun, which takes about 25 days to complete one rotate of its own axis.
The sun is a star, a hot ball of glowing gases at the heart of our solar system. Without it, there would be no life on Earth. The Sun is 109 times bigger than Earth, with a diameter of about 1 400 129.28 kilometers and a mass of 1.9891 × 10(30) kilograms. The temperature on the Sun photosphere (its surface) is 10,000°C. The temperature at the core is about 27 million° Fahrenheit. Our whole solar system rotates around the Sun, which takes about 25 days to complete one rotate of its own axis.
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Mercury:
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, with its minimum distant being 46 million kilometres away from the star. It takes 58.65 days for the planet to complete one rotation of its axis, while it only take 0.24 years (88 Earth days) for Mercury to orbit the Sun once. It is about 77.3 million kilometres from Earth and with a diameter of 4,878 km, it is nearly 3 times smaller than our planet. At night, the temperature of Mercury’s surface can reach -170 °C and at noon in the day time, almost 400 °C. Mercury has no satellites of its own. Scientists believe the planet has a metallic core, an intermediate rocky layer, and then a thin brittle crust.
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, with its minimum distant being 46 million kilometres away from the star. It takes 58.65 days for the planet to complete one rotation of its axis, while it only take 0.24 years (88 Earth days) for Mercury to orbit the Sun once. It is about 77.3 million kilometres from Earth and with a diameter of 4,878 km, it is nearly 3 times smaller than our planet. At night, the temperature of Mercury’s surface can reach -170 °C and at noon in the day time, almost 400 °C. Mercury has no satellites of its own. Scientists believe the planet has a metallic core, an intermediate rocky layer, and then a thin brittle crust.
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Venus:
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and the sister planet to Earth. Venus’ mass is 4.868× 10 (24) kg and its diameter is 12 103.6 km. This makes it the 6th largest planet in our solar system. The average temperature of the planet is 462 degrees, this is because of thick clouds that surround Venus, which trap heat from the Sun. About 65% of Venus is flat, while the rest is 35% rugged terrain. It takes the planet about 243 Earth days to rotate on its axis and 225 days to orbit around the Sun. Venus rotates in the opposite direction to Earth and over takes our planet every 584 days. Venus was discovered by Galileo in 1610 and in 1776-1779 Captain Cook made observations of the transit of Venus. Venus does not have any satellites.
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and the sister planet to Earth. Venus’ mass is 4.868× 10 (24) kg and its diameter is 12 103.6 km. This makes it the 6th largest planet in our solar system. The average temperature of the planet is 462 degrees, this is because of thick clouds that surround Venus, which trap heat from the Sun. About 65% of Venus is flat, while the rest is 35% rugged terrain. It takes the planet about 243 Earth days to rotate on its axis and 225 days to orbit around the Sun. Venus rotates in the opposite direction to Earth and over takes our planet every 584 days. Venus was discovered by Galileo in 1610 and in 1776-1779 Captain Cook made observations of the transit of Venus. Venus does not have any satellites.
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Earth
Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun and the 5th biggest planet in our solar system. The diameter of our planet is 12,756.3 km and the mass is 5.97219 × 10(24) kilograms. Earth is the only planet known to support life and to have liquid water on the surface. Earth has an extensive atmosphere and magnetic field, both of which are critical for sustaining life on Earth. The average temperature of Earth is 20 degrees. Earth’s north and south poles are where the temperature on Earth can reach its coldest while the equator is where the temperature keeps to a balmy tropical level. Earth has one moon which is about 384,392 kilometres from our planet. It takes 365 days and 5 hours for our planet to rotate around the Sun and 24 hours for Earth to rotate on its own axis, tilted at about 23 degrees.
Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun and the 5th biggest planet in our solar system. The diameter of our planet is 12,756.3 km and the mass is 5.97219 × 10(24) kilograms. Earth is the only planet known to support life and to have liquid water on the surface. Earth has an extensive atmosphere and magnetic field, both of which are critical for sustaining life on Earth. The average temperature of Earth is 20 degrees. Earth’s north and south poles are where the temperature on Earth can reach its coldest while the equator is where the temperature keeps to a balmy tropical level. Earth has one moon which is about 384,392 kilometres from our planet. It takes 365 days and 5 hours for our planet to rotate around the Sun and 24 hours for Earth to rotate on its own axis, tilted at about 23 degrees.
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Mars:
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun and the 3rd smallest. It has a diameter of 4879.4 km and a mass of 6.41693 × 10(23) kilograms. The planet has two satellites (Phobos and Deimos) and it takes the planet 24 hours and 37 minutes to rotate the Sun. The length of Mars’ year is 687 Earth days. The average temperature of Mars is between -140 to 20 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide (95 percent), nitrogen (2.7 percent), argon (1.6 percent), oxygen (0.2 percent) and trace amounts of water vapour and carbon monoxide. Mars is called the red planet because of the iron oxide in its surface material that gives it is red colour. No one actually knows who discovered Mars.
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun and the 3rd smallest. It has a diameter of 4879.4 km and a mass of 6.41693 × 10(23) kilograms. The planet has two satellites (Phobos and Deimos) and it takes the planet 24 hours and 37 minutes to rotate the Sun. The length of Mars’ year is 687 Earth days. The average temperature of Mars is between -140 to 20 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide (95 percent), nitrogen (2.7 percent), argon (1.6 percent), oxygen (0.2 percent) and trace amounts of water vapour and carbon monoxide. Mars is called the red planet because of the iron oxide in its surface material that gives it is red colour. No one actually knows who discovered Mars.
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Jupiter:
Jupiter is the 5th planet from the Sun and the largest planet in our solar system. With a diameter of 142,800 km and a mass of 1.89813 × 10 (27) kilograms it is 121 times the size of Earth. Jupiter’s minimum distant from the Sun is 741 million km and about 588 million km from Earth. It has one thin ring and 63 known satellites. Its axis is tilted about 3.1 degrees and it takes 9.8 hour for it to complete one rotation of it. It takes Jupiter 12 Earth years to complete one rotation of the Sun. Jupiter's atmosphere includes helium, hydrogen, ammonia, methane, and sulphur. The composition also includes exotic molecules such as germain. The average temperature atop of the planet’s clouds is -150 degrees. No one knows for sure who discovered Jupiter unfortunately.
Jupiter is the 5th planet from the Sun and the largest planet in our solar system. With a diameter of 142,800 km and a mass of 1.89813 × 10 (27) kilograms it is 121 times the size of Earth. Jupiter’s minimum distant from the Sun is 741 million km and about 588 million km from Earth. It has one thin ring and 63 known satellites. Its axis is tilted about 3.1 degrees and it takes 9.8 hour for it to complete one rotation of it. It takes Jupiter 12 Earth years to complete one rotation of the Sun. Jupiter's atmosphere includes helium, hydrogen, ammonia, methane, and sulphur. The composition also includes exotic molecules such as germain. The average temperature atop of the planet’s clouds is -150 degrees. No one knows for sure who discovered Jupiter unfortunately.
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Saturn:
Saturn is the 2nd largest planet in our solar system and the 6th from the Sun. It has a mass of 5.68319 × 10(26) kilograms and a diameter of 119,871 km. It takes Saturn 10.67 hours for it to rotate on its axis which is tilted at 26 degrees. It takes about 29.5 years for the planet to rotate the Sun once. The average temperature at the tops of the planet’s clouds is – 170 degrees. Saturn atmosphere is approximately 75% hydrogen and 25% helium with traces of methane and water ice. The planet has 62 satellites and 7 rings (4 thick and 3 thinner). Saturn’s moon, Titan is one of the biggest in our solar system. Saturn was discovered by Galileo in 1610.
Saturn is the 2nd largest planet in our solar system and the 6th from the Sun. It has a mass of 5.68319 × 10(26) kilograms and a diameter of 119,871 km. It takes Saturn 10.67 hours for it to rotate on its axis which is tilted at 26 degrees. It takes about 29.5 years for the planet to rotate the Sun once. The average temperature at the tops of the planet’s clouds is – 170 degrees. Saturn atmosphere is approximately 75% hydrogen and 25% helium with traces of methane and water ice. The planet has 62 satellites and 7 rings (4 thick and 3 thinner). Saturn’s moon, Titan is one of the biggest in our solar system. Saturn was discovered by Galileo in 1610.
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Uranus:
Uranus is the 7th planet from the Sun and the 3rd biggest. It has a diameter of 51,118 kilometres and a mass of 8.68103 × 10(25) kilograms. Its surface area is about 8,115,600,000 km2 and it is 2877000000km away from the Sun. Uranus is the coldest planet in our solar system with an average temperature of -360 degrees. The planet’s atmosphere is mainly made up of 83% hydrogen, 15% helium and 2% methane plus trace amounts of water and ammonia. The planet’s axis is tilted on a 99 degree angle and nights on some parts of Uranus can last for more than 40 years. It takes about 84 years for the planet to orbit the sun and seasons can last for 20 years. Uranus has 11 rings and 27 known moons, all of which are named after characters written by William Shakespeare and and Alexander Pope.
Uranus is the 7th planet from the Sun and the 3rd biggest. It has a diameter of 51,118 kilometres and a mass of 8.68103 × 10(25) kilograms. Its surface area is about 8,115,600,000 km2 and it is 2877000000km away from the Sun. Uranus is the coldest planet in our solar system with an average temperature of -360 degrees. The planet’s atmosphere is mainly made up of 83% hydrogen, 15% helium and 2% methane plus trace amounts of water and ammonia. The planet’s axis is tilted on a 99 degree angle and nights on some parts of Uranus can last for more than 40 years. It takes about 84 years for the planet to orbit the sun and seasons can last for 20 years. Uranus has 11 rings and 27 known moons, all of which are named after characters written by William Shakespeare and and Alexander Pope.
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Neptune:
Neptune is the 4th biggest planet in our solar system with a diameter of 49500 kilometres and a mass of 1.0241 × 10(26) kilograms. The planet is 4530000000 km from Sun and its average temperature is -220 degrees. Neptune is covered with volcanoes that pour out liquid Nitrogen and is almost all made up of ice, rock and gas. The average wind speed on the planet is about 2100 km/h and it has close to the same gravity as Earth. Neptune was discovered by Galileo in 1612 but he mistook it for a fixed star. Neptune was officially discovered as a planet by Johann Galle on the 23rd of September 1864. The planet has 6 rings and 13 moons with its largest named Triton. Neptune was the Greek God of the Sea and the planet was named this as it went along with the pattern of Greek and Roman names given to the planets (excluding Earth).
Neptune is the 4th biggest planet in our solar system with a diameter of 49500 kilometres and a mass of 1.0241 × 10(26) kilograms. The planet is 4530000000 km from Sun and its average temperature is -220 degrees. Neptune is covered with volcanoes that pour out liquid Nitrogen and is almost all made up of ice, rock and gas. The average wind speed on the planet is about 2100 km/h and it has close to the same gravity as Earth. Neptune was discovered by Galileo in 1612 but he mistook it for a fixed star. Neptune was officially discovered as a planet by Johann Galle on the 23rd of September 1864. The planet has 6 rings and 13 moons with its largest named Triton. Neptune was the Greek God of the Sea and the planet was named this as it went along with the pattern of Greek and Roman names given to the planets (excluding Earth).
Above: Diagram of our solar system
Link to a fantastic website on our system:
http://www.solarsystemscope.com/
http://www.solarsystemscope.com/