There is still much unexplored in the universe. How many are there and what makes them unique?
There are eight planets in the solar system for 2019: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto is among the dwarfs since 2006, but more on that below.
Mercury: a world of contrasts
At the object closest to the Sun, there was a place for ice. It can be found in craters that are constantly in the shade. Sunlight does not reach their bottom. Experts suggest that comets may have thrown ice onto the planet. Mercury is only in second place in terms of temperature: the priority belongs to Venus. Its surface is more beaten by craters than other celestial bodies. The exact date of its discovery is unknown, but the first references are found in Sumerian texts.
Interesting fact: The MESSENGER spacecraft discovered at the North Pole of the planet not only ice, but also organics - elements for the emergence of life. Mercury is too hot, it has no atmosphere for life to develop in its usual form. However, these discoveries make it possible to find out how these elements spread throughout the solar system.
Venus: heavenly beauty
This is the brightest object in the night sky after our satellite. The surface of the planet is unavailable for observation due to the high cloudiness, for the same reason the Sun cannot be seen from its surface. Venus has rather large craters, at least two kilometers in diameter. The reason is still the same dense atmosphere through which only large objects can pass, and small ones simply burn out. There is no water on the planet, but there are thousands of volcanoes, among which, according to recent observations, there are active ones.
Earth: the only known inhabited planet
The celestial body, which has sheltered humanity, is in third place at a distance from the Sun. In the past, the Earth was considered the center of the whole world. It has a strong magnetic field, it is also the densest planet, in second place is Mercury. This has become one of the key factors for the emergence of life.
Interesting fact: Of all the planets, only ours was named not in honor of the ancient gods.
Mars: a planet on which life could exist
In fourth place, remoteness from the Sun, Mars is located. It is called the Red Planet: this color occurs due to the oxidation of iron. Simply put, the surface of the celestial body "rusted" through. On Mars, the highest mountain in the solar system is Olympus, 21 kilometers high. Dust storms are constantly raging on the surface of the Red Planet. Water is present only in a state of ice.
Many cosmologists are convinced that once upon a time the planet had an atmosphere and a hydrosphere. And with water and air, life could potentially exist. It is difficult to say what exactly made the planet dry and cold, as we know it. Perhaps the violation of the magnetic field or a collision with a large asteroid is to blame.
Jupiter: giant planet
The mass of the giant is twice as large as all the planets combined. It has the shortest day: circulation period - 9 hours 55 minutes. For 2019, 79 giant satellites are known. The largest is Ganymede: it is larger than any other planetary satellite known to science. The famous Big Red Spot on the surface is the atmospheric whirlwind, the largest in our system.It is so large that its area exceeds three Earths.
Saturn: Lord of the Rings
The sixth planet is famous for its ring of ice and dust, first discovered by Galileo in 1610. Saturn also enters into purely gas giants: its key element is hydrogen.
Interesting fact: on Saturn’s largest satellite, Titan, there could be conditions for life to arise. But its shape would be different than on Earth, scientists say.
Uranus: a rolling planet
In seventh place is Uranus. It has an unusual tilt of the axis - 98 degrees, that is, technically it lies “on its side” and so “rolls” in its orbit. The circulation period is 84 earth years. Uranus also has rings, not as noticeable as those of Saturn, but still more complicated than the very simple ones around Jupiter.
Neptune: The Cold Neighborhood
It is located at the farthest distance from the Sun. Neptune has an unstable climate, strong winds blow: gusts reach 1770 km / h. One of its 14 moons - Triton - is possibly the coldest place known to mankind: temperatures averaged -235 degrees Celsius.
Why are there eight rather than nine planets in the solar system?
Many remember the time when there were nine planets in the solar system. But in 2006, it was decided to exclude Pluto from the list. He did not meet all the set criteria: he turned out to be not enough strong gravitational field. Now it is in the position of a dwarf planet.
