Introduction
Right from our birth we are taught that our earth in present in solar system. But do you know how our solar system was formed, the composition of the solar system, and how planets are classified? In this post we will tell you everything about the solar system in detail. So let's dive right in.
Solar system
Solar system is a heavenly body located in the Milky Way galaxy. It is bound by the gravitational field of its parent star Sun. The Sun is a yellow dwarf star (G2V) Present at the centre of the Solar System. Our Home planet also exists in this solar system.
Solar system, Image source : Live science
Composition
The solar system is made up of the parent star Sun, eight planets and five dwarf planet. It also has other small objects which are between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter which is made up of many small pieces of Rock, Ice and Metals this region is called Asteroid belt.
And after the orbit of Neptune there is a large collection of small pieces of rock and gases which are frozen. This region is called Kepler belt. The solar system was formed 4.6 billion years ago due to Gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud.
Formation
Before 4.6 billion years ago a large cloud of gases and dust was present here called solar nebula, then due to a shockwave from nearby supernova the solar nebula started to compress and at the heart of nebula (center) all the gases of nebula started to get attracted there due to gravitational force, which was made in center.
From there started the formation of sun, The cloud had gases like hydrogen and helium and thus all the hydrogen and helium started to get attracted to the center as more and more gases came in center the gravitational pull started to get bigger, and then nuclear fusion between hydrogen and helium started and with the start of nuclear fusion our sun was formed.
During the formation of the sun, the dust particles present in the cloud started to collide with each other as more and more dust particles collided they started to have gravity and attract more particles. And all these lumps of dust formed the inner planet.
When the sun released a huge solar wind after formation, all the gases along with the solar wind got at the edge of the solar system and then as gases started to get compressed they developed gravitational pull and formed all the outer planets.
Sun
The sun is a typical main sequence star it is yellow dwarf star (G2V) It is located at the center of solar system it is composed of 73 % hydrogen and 25% helium and 2% other elements.It is Almost spherical in shape And in the state of plasma, due to which continuous nuclear chain reaction takes place here which produce high amount of energy in the form heat and light.
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| Sun, Image source : National geographic |
The surface temperature of the sun is 5,500℃. And the diameter of the sun is 1.39 million km and it has mass which makes upto 99.86% of the solar system equivalent to 3,30,000 earths.
Planets
A planet is a heavenly body revolving around its parent star in an elliptical orbit. The planets are mainly composed of either solid rocks or gases. Planets which have a solid surface and are composed of rock are called terrestrial planets.
Planets which are made up of different types of gases are called Gas giants. The solar system has officially 8 planets. The planets in the solar system are divided into two parts Inner planets and outer planets.
Inner planets
Planets like Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are considered as inner planets. They all are terrestrial planets and they have a solid surface. Planets which lie between the Sun and asteroid belt are considered as inner planets.
Outer planets
Planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are considered as outer planets they all are gas giants they are mainly composed of gas. Planets which lie between the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt are considered as outer planets.
Mercury
Mercury is the first Planet in the solar system. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun with an average distance from the sun 57,910,000 km. It is the smallest planet in the solar system with a diameter of 4,879.4 km. It has no natural satellite (Moon) and it has a thick iron core.
Mercury, Image source : NASA
Mercury has no atmosphere as it has low mass (3.285 x 10^23 kg) due to which it has a very gravitational force which cannot hold an atmosphere. Mercury takes 87. 97 Earth Day to complete one rotation around the sun. During the day the surface temperature of mercury on average is 400 degree Celsius and during the night the surface temperature on an average is - 200 degree Celsius.
Venus
Venus is the second planet in the solar system. Venus Is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon. Distance of Venus from the sun is 108.33 million km. Venus takes 224.7 Earth days to complete one rotation around the sun.
Terrestrial planet and also known as Sister planet of earth as It has same size, mass and proximity to the earth. Venus is the hottest planet in the Solar System as it has a thick atmosphere made up of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and clouds.
They Are made up of sulphuric acid which trap’s the heat inside its atmosphere. The temperature there is 475 degree Celsius. Venus is also called the morning and evening star as it is the first Star to appear when sunsets and it is also the last Star to disappear when the sun rises.
Venus is the only planet in the Solar System which rotates from east to west. All other planets except Uranus rotate from west to east. Venus, like mercury, has no natural satellite(Moon).
Earth
Earth is the third planet in the Solar System. Earth is present in the habitable zone of the sun due to which Earth is the only known planet which has life present on it. Earth is the largest and the densest Planet among the inner planets.
Earth, Image source : Space
It has liquid water on its surface which makes upto 71% of its composition due to which it is also called the blue planet. Earth has a distance of 149.22 million km from the sun. Also, Earth has an atmosphere which contains 21% oxygen.
Earth's magnetosphere protects Earth from destructive solarwinds. Earth has a natural satellite (Moon) called lunar and Earth’s natural satellite is the biggest natural satellite among the inner planets. Earth has a diameter of 12742 km. Formed 4.5 billion years ago.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system. And the second smallest planet in the solar system as it is bigger than mercury it has a diameter of 6,779 km. Mars is also called Red Planet as its soil contains high amounts of iron oxide which give it its significant colour red.
Mars has the biggest mountain and volcano in the solar system , Mount Olympus mons. It has two natural satellites (Moon) Phobos and Deimos. Mars has a thin atmosphere with 95.32% Carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen, 1.6% argon and 0.13% oxygen. Mars is 215.46 million km away from the sun due to which it is a cold planet with average temperature of -60 degree Celsius.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet in the solar system. It is the largest planet in the solar system with a diameter of 1,39,820 km. Jupiter is a gas giant which is mainly made up of gases like Hydrogen and helium. It has the largest ocean in the solar system which is made up of Hydrogen instead of water.
Jupiter, Image source : NASA
Jupiter has 80 natural satellites out of which Ganymede is the largest natural satellite in the solar system. Ganymeda is bigger than Mercury and Pluto. The ganymeda has a diameter of 5,268.2 km. Jupiter is so big that it can be seen by naked eye from Earth. Jupiter completes one rotation around its axis in 10 hours and takes 12 Earth years to complete one rotation around the sun.
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet in the Solar System. Saturn is the second biggest planet in the solar system. The diameter of Saturn is 1,16,460 km. Saturn is a gas giant which is made up of hydrogen and helium. It has a solid core of iron and nickel.
Saturn, Image source : NASA
Saturn has less density due to which it can float on water. Saturn is popular due to its significant rings which are mainly made up of small pieces of ice and rock debris and dust. Saturn has confirmed 83 natural satellites out of which Titan is the biggest moon of Saturn which is bigger than mercury. Wind speed on Saturn can reach 1800 km per hour.
Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet in the Solar System. Uranus is the lightest of all other outer planets. Since Uranus is located far from the sun due to which it is called the Ice giant. It is 2.9479 billion km away from the sun. It has a diameter of 50,724 km.
Uranus is unique as it rotates around the sun from north to south. Uranus has 27 natural satellites out of which Titania is the biggest moon. Uranus takes 17 hours to complete one rotation around its axis and 84 Earth years to complete one rotation around the sun. It was discovered by William Herschel on 13 March 1781.
Neptune
Neptune is the 8 planet in the Solar System. It is the last planet in the solar system. It is the fourth largest planet in the Solar System with a diameter of 49,244 km. Neptune has a distance from the sun of 4.4745 billion km.
Neptune, Image source : NASA
It has 14 natural satellites out of which triton is the biggest moon. Neptune was found by Johann Galle on 23rd September 1846. Neptune takes 16 hours to complete one rotation around and takes 165 years to complete one rotation around the sun.
Conclusion
So here we conclude our post about solar system hope so that you would have learned something new about the solar system. The important points of the post were -
- Solar system is a heavenly body located in the Milky Way galaxy.
- Our Home planet also exists in this solar system.
- The solar system is made up of the parent star Sun, eight planets and five dwarf planets.
- The solar system was formed 4.6 billion years ago due to Gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud.
- The sun is a typical main sequence star; it is a yellow dwarf star (G2V) It is located at the centre of the solar system.
- A planet is a heavenly body revolving around its parent star in an elliptical orbit.
- Planets like Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are considered as inner planets. They all are terrestrial planets and they have a solid surface.
- Planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are considered as outer planets they all are gas giants they are mainly composed of gas.
- Mercury is the first Planet in the solar system. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.
- Venus is the 2nd planet in the solar system. In the night sky Venus is the brightest object after the moon.
- Earth is the third planet in the Solar System. Earth is present in the habitable zone of the sun.
- Mars is the 4th planet in the solar system. And the second smallest planet in the solar system.
- Jupiter is the fifth planet in the solar system. It is the largest planet in the solar system.
- Saturn is the sixth planet in the Solar System. Saturn is the second biggest planet in the solar system.
- Uranus is the seventh planet in the Solar System. Uranus is the lightest of all other outer planets.
- Neptune is the 8 planet in the Solar System. It is the last planet in the solar system.
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