The PlanetsSolar System
The earth is only one small planet in an extremely large system of planets, satellites, asteroids, meteors and comets that revolve around the sun. This system is referred to as the solar system. A planet is defined as a "celestial body that revolves around a central star and does not shine by its own light " (Grolier,1992). The only planetary system known to our civilization is our solar system. It is made up of nine planets that differ greatly size and physical characteristics. The nine major planets in our solar system are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. There are also many other minor planets which are also in our solar system, but they are unimportant compared to the nine major planets. Following are descriptions of the differences that each of the nine planets have. The first planet to be discussed is Mercury. Mercury is the planet that is closest to the sun at an average distance of about 58 million km, or about 36 million miles. It takes 58.7 days for Mercury to rotate. The planet rotates one and one half times during each revolution. Mercury has a density and composition close to that of Earth and, like Earth has a magnetic field. This magnetic field is produced from
This explains the seasonal change similarity that Mars shares with Earth. It also contains methane which gives it its blue color. These "famous" rings contain more than 100,000 individual ringlets. Much of the volcanic activity on Venus takes the form of Basaltic eruptions that inundate large areas, much as the mare volcanism flooded the impacted basins on the near side of the moon. It is thought that this slow rotation may be the reason why Venus has no magnetic field. Neptune has a diameter of 49,500 Km and a mass 17 times greater than that of the Earth. The surface temperature is also much warmer than that of Earth. Methane, phosphine, ethane, and acetylene are also identifiable in smaller amounts. Its weather conditions remain something of a mystery, or puzzle, to scientists. Its atmosphere is much like Uranus's because it contains predominantly helium and hydrogen. Venus is known as the sister planet to the Earth. The atmosphere is extremely thin and contains sodium and potassium. When Venus is viewed through a telescope, it shows phases like the moon.
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