How many planets in the solar system? (A Simple Guide)
The solar system has been a source of fascination to human beings for many years, with the objects that exist in it including planets and moons, as well as asteroids and comets. A common question that arises is the number of planets in the solar system.
So here we learn more about the different types of Planets in the Solar System.
What Defines a Planet?
A planet is an astronomical body that meets the following criteria set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006:
Orbits the Sun: It is mandatory that the body moves in an orbit around the Sun.
Sufficient Mass: Targets and the object nearby must possess sufficient mass to become almost spherical by its gravity.
Clears Its Orbit: The planet has to reign supremely over its orbital area, to sweep away other objects that might be lying scattered in that region.
These criteria resulted in a number of changes in the classification of celestial objects leading to changes in the number of planets in the solar system.
The Eight Planets Explained
1. Mercury
Position: Closest to the Sun.
Size: The smallest planet in the solar system.
Atmosphere: Slender fashioned mostly from oxygen, sodium, and also hydrogen.
Unique Features: Has very high temperatures affecting it during the daytime and very low temperatures at night.
2. Venus
Position: Second planet from the Sun.
Size: Similar in size to Earth.
Atmosphere: Rich and dominated by carbon dioxide leading to a runaway greenhouse effect.
Unique Features: The hottest planet in the solar system with a surface temperature exceeding 475°C (900 °F).
3. Earth
Position: Third planet from the Sun.
Size: Fifth-largest planet.
Atmosphere: It is, therefore, full of oxygen and nitrogen, which sustains various forms of life.
Unique Features: The home of all life that is confirmed and about 71% of that planet’s surface area is water.
4. Mars
Position: Fourth planet from the Sun.
Size: Approximately 116 million kilometers – half the diameter of Earth.
Atmosphere: Slight and primarily made of carbon dioxide.
Unique Features: Otherwise called the Red Planet due to the presence of iron oxide on its surface. Home to the largest volcano in the whole solar system, Olympus Mons.
5. Jupiter
Position: Fifth planet from the Sun.
Size: Greatest planet of all the nine planets in the solar system.
Atmosphere: Made of hydrogen and helium Content:
Unique Features: Probably the most famous storm in the solar system, the Great Red Spot, has been raging on for around 300 Earth years. Ganymede being the largest, currently has 92 moons identified.
6. Saturn
Position: Sixth planet from the Sun.
Size: Second-largest planet.
Atmosphere: For the most part, the elements are hydrogen, and helium forms most of the total mass.
Unique Features: Well documented for its large ring system comprising particles of ice and rocks.
7. Uranus
Position: Seventh planet from the Sun.
Size: Third-largest planet.
Atmosphere: Ir H _{2} Composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane and has a blue-green flare.
Unique Features: One of the unique features is that it rotates on its side.
8. Neptune
Position: The planet is located in the eighth position and is the most distant from the Sun.
Size: Slightly smaller than Uranus.
Atmosphere: Like Uranus, with a blue color because of methane.
Unique Features: Biggest gales, gusts of which can develop into storms with velocities of over 13,50 kilometers per hour.
What About Pluto?
Pluto Used to be the ninth planet until, back in 2006 the International Astronomical Union demoted it to a dwarf planet whence they set the rules on what constitutes a planet. It does not meet the third criterion; it would not “clean” its orbit of other objects thus it was reclassified as a dwarf planet. Other dwarf planets are others are Eris, HAUMEA, Makemake, and Ceres.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Solar System’s Planets
1. What happened to Pluto to make it no longer be considered a planet?
Subsequently, Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet because it is incapable of clearing other objects from its orbit, although that is among the three requirements any object must meet to be classified as a planet.
2. Which planet occupies the first rank in size?
Jupiter is the largest planet, and its diameter measures 139,820 km (86,881 miles).
3. Is there an existence of more planets after Neptue?
Scientists have estimated that there is a “Planet Nine” on the outskirts of the solar system but the news is yet to be confirmed.
4. Which planet is the hottest?
Venus is the hottest planet, some of the surface temperature is even higher than Mercury and the mean temperature is about 475°C (900°F).
5. Is it possible for humans to subsist on any planet other than our pale blue dot?
Today, the only planet in the cosmos is the Earth that can support life. Because of its close resemblance to the Earth, Mars has been postulated as one of the planets suitable for habitation.
6. How many dwarf planets are there in the whole solar system?
There are five officially recognized dwarf planets: So, let me introduce you to the new members: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres.
Conclusion
It is considered at the moment that the concept of the solar system includes eight planets which are extremely various in the given respect and provide invaluable information concerning the existence of the universe. Regardless of the new comeback of Pluto’s status, it has opened the doors for elaborating the idea and concept of planets as well as they are not so simple as was thought earlier. From the hot burning crust of Venus and the astronomically ruthless winds of Neptune, NASA’s Solar System continues to be spoken about.
