Comparative characteristics of the planets of the solar system: description and interesting facts. Dimensions of objects in the Universe in comparison (photo)

Have you asked yourself the question: what do the planets look like in comparison with each other?! - I personally more than once, but at the same time I could not visually imagine how big the difference between them is. I have always been interested in comparing them with each other, observing at least approximate proportions... Break a large number of images, I came across a picture close in its parameters to the required one. On it I tried to show how small our planet is compared to the Sun, but the most interesting thing is that it exists great amount stars are much larger than the Sun, tens of thousands or more times. This article provides a visual comparison of the sizes of the planets solar system and some famous stars among themselves, as well as their main physical characteristics.

1. Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet. Its radius is only 2439.7 ± 1.0 km. The planet's mass is 3.3022×1023 kg (0.055 Earth's). The average density of Mercury is quite high - 5.43 g/cm³, which is only slightly less than the density of the Earth (0.984 Earth's). Surface area (S) - 6.083 × 1010 km³ (0.147 Earth).

2. Mars is the fourth most distant from the Sun (after Mercury, Venus and Earth) and the seventh largest (exceeding only Mercury in mass and diameter) planet of the solar system. The mass of Mars is 10.7% of the mass of the Earth (6.423 × 1023 kg versus 5.9736 × 1024 kg for the Earth), the volume is 16.318 × 1010 km³, which is about 0.15 the volume of the Earth, and the average linear diameter is 0.53 diameters Earth (6800 km). Surface area (S) - 144,371,391 km² (0.283 Earth).

3. Venus is the second inner planet of the Solar System with an orbital period of 224.7 Earth days. Volume (V) - 9.38 × 1011 km³ (0.857 Earth). Mass (m) - 4.8685×1024 kg (0.815 Earth). Average density (ρ) - 5.24 g/cm³. Surface area (S) - 4.60×108 km² (0.902 Earth). The average radius is 6051.8 ± 1.0 km.

4. Earth is the third planet from the Sun in the Solar System, the largest in diameter, mass and density among the terrestrial planets. The average radius is 6,371.0 km. Surface area (S) - 510,072,000 km². Volume (V) - 10.832073×1011 km³. Weight (m) - 5.9736×1024 kg. Average density (ρ) - 5.5153 g/cm³.

5. Neptune is the eighth and most distant planet of the solar system. Neptune is also the fourth largest planet in diameter and third largest in mass. Neptune's mass is 1.0243 × 1026 kg, which is 17.2 times, and the diameter of the equator is 3.9 times greater than that of the Earth. The average radius is 24552.5 ± 20 km. Surface area (S) - 7.6408×109 km². Volume (V) - 6.254 × 1013 km³. Average density (ρ) - 1.638 g/cm³.

6. Uranus is the seventh planet in terms of distance from the Sun, the third in diameter and the fourth in terms of mass in the solar system. The average radius is 25266 km. Surface area (S) - 8.1156×109 km². Volume (V) - 6.833×1013 km³. Weight (m) - 8.6832×1025 kg. Average density (ρ) - 1.27 g/cm³.

7. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System after Jupiter. Saturn, as well as Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune, are classified as gas giants. Average radius - 57316 ± 7 km. Surface area (S) - 4.27 × 1010 km². Volume (V) - 8.2713×1014 km³. Weight (m) - 5.6846×1026 kg. Average density (ρ) - 0.687 g/cm³.

8. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, the largest in the Solar System. Along with Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, Jupiter is classified as gas giant. Average radius – 69173 ± 7 km. Surface area (S) - 6.21796×1010 km². Volume (V) - 1.43128×1015 km³. Weight (m) - 1.8986×1027 kg.

9. Wolf 359 (CN Leio) is a star approximately 2.4 parsecs or 7.80 light years from the Solar System. It is one of the closest stars to the Sun; it is known that only the Alpha Centauri system and Barnard's star are closer to it. In the constellation Leo it is located next to the ecliptic. It is an extremely faint red dwarf, not visible to the naked eye, and is a flare star. Mass - 0.09-0.13 M☉ (M☉ - solar mass). Radius - 0.16-0.19 R☉ (R☉ - solar radius).

10. The Sun is the only star in the Solar System around which other objects of this system revolve: planets and their satellites, dwarf planets and their satellites, asteroids, meteoroids, comets and cosmic dust. The mass of the Sun is 99.866% of the total mass of the entire Solar System. Solar radiation supports life on Earth (photons are necessary for the initial stages of the photosynthesis process), determines climate. Of the stars belonging to the 50 closest star systems within 17 light years currently known, the Sun is the fourth brightest star (its absolute magnitude is +4.83m). The Sun's mass is 333,000 times that of the Earth. More than 99% of the mass of the solar system is contained in the sun. Most individual stars in the Universe have a mass between 0.08 and 50 solar masses, but the mass of black holes and entire galaxies can reach millions and billions of solar masses. The average diameter is 1.392 × 109 m (109 diameters of the Earth). Equatorial radius - 6.955×108 m. Volume - 1.4122×1027 m³ (1,303,600 Earth volumes). Mass - 1.9891×1030 kg (332,946 Earth masses). Surface area - 6.088 × 1018 m² (11,900 Earth areas).

11. Sirius (lat. Sirius), α Canis Major- the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius can be observed from any region of the Earth, with the exception of its northernmost regions. Sirius is 8.6 light years away from the Solar System and is one of the closest stars to us. It is a main sequence star of spectral class A1. Initially, Sirius consisted of two powerful blue stars of spectral class A. The mass of one component was 5 solar masses, the second - 2 solar masses (Sirius B and Sirius A). Then the more powerful and massive component Sirius B burned out and became a white dwarf. Now the mass of Sirius A is approximately twice the mass of the Sun, Sirius B is slightly less than the mass of the Sun.

12. Pollux (β Gem / β Gemini / Beta Gemini) is the brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the brightest stars in the sky. Weight - 1.7±0.4 M☉. Radius - 8.0 R☉.

13. Arcturus (α Boo / α Bootes / Alpha Bootes) - the most bright Star in the constellation Bootes and the northern hemisphere and the fourth brightest star in the night sky after Sirius, Canopus and the Alpha Centauri system. The apparent magnitude of Arcturus is −0.05m. Because Alpha Centauri consists of two bright stars (−0.01m and +1.34m) that are closer together than the resolution limit of the human eye, it appears brighter to the naked eye than Arcturus. Arcturus is the second brightest star visible at northern latitudes (after Sirius) and is the brightest star north of the celestial equator. Weight - 1–1.5 M☉. Radius - 25.7 ± 0.3 R☉.

14. Aldebaran (α Tau / α Tauri / Alpha Tauri) is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Weight - 2.5±0.15 M☉. Radius - 38±0.36 R☉.

15. Rigel is a bright near-equatorial star, β Orionis. Blue-white supergiant. The name means "foot" in Arabic (referring to Orion's foot). It has a visual magnitude of 0.12m. Rigel is located approximately 870 light years from the Sun. Its surface temperature is 11,200 K (spectral class B8I-a), its diameter is about 95 million km (that is, 68 times larger than the Sun) and its absolute magnitude is −7m; its luminosity is 85,000 times higher than the Sun, which means it is one of the most powerful stars in the Galaxy (in any case, the most powerful of the brightest stars in the sky, since Rigel is the closest star with such enormous luminosity). Weight - 17 M☉. Radius - 70 R☉.

16. Antares (α Sco / Alpha Scorpii) is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpio and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, a red supergiant. In Russia it is better visible in the southern regions, but is also observed in the central regions. Enters Bubble I - the region adjacent to the Local Bubble, which includes the Solar System. Antares is an M-class supergiant, with a diameter of approximately 2.1×109 km. Antares is approximately 600 light years away from Earth. Its visible luminosity is 10,000 times that of the sun, but given that the star emits much of its energy in the infrared, the total luminosity is 65,000 times that of the sun. The star's mass ranges from 15 to 18 solar masses. The huge size and relatively small mass indicate that Antares has a very low density. Weight - 15-18 M☉. Radius - 700 R☉.

17. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant (α Orionis), a semi-regular variable star, the brightness of which varies from 0.2 to 1.2 magnitude and averages about 0.7m. According to modern estimates, the angular diameter of Betelgeuse is about 0.055 arcseconds. Distance to star different estimates ranges from 495 to 640 light years. This is one of the largest stars known to astronomers: if you place it instead of the Sun, then minimum size it would fill the orbit of Mars, and at maximum it would reach the orbit of Jupiter. If we take 570 light years as the distance to Betelgeuse, then its diameter will exceed the diameter of the Sun by approximately 950-1000 times. Betelgeuse has a color index (B-V) of 1.86 and is thought to have a mass of about 20 solar masses. At its minimum size, Betelgeuse's brightness exceeds the brightness of the Sun by 80 thousand times, and at its maximum - 105 thousand times. Weight - 18-19 M☉. Radius - ~1000 R☉.

18. Mu Cephei (μ Cep / μ Cephei), also known as Herschel's Garnet Star, is a red supergiant star located in the constellation Cepheus. It is one of the largest and most powerful (total luminosity 350,000 times higher than the Sun) stars in our Galaxy and belongs to the spectral class M2Ia. The star is approximately 1650 times larger than the Sun (radius 7.7 AU) and if placed in its place, its radius would be between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. Mu Cephei could contain a billion suns and 2.7 quadrillion earths. If the Earth were the size of a golf ball (4.3 cm), Mu Cephei would be the width of 2 Golden Gate Bridges (5.5 km). Weight - 25 M☉. Radius -1650 R☉.

19. VV Cephei (lat. VV Cephei) is an eclipsing double star of the Algol type in the constellation Cepheus, which is located at a distance of about 3000 light years from Earth. Component A is the third largest star known to science. this moment and the second largest star in the Milky Way galaxy (after VY Canis Majoris and WOH G64). The M2 class red supergiant VV Cephei A is the second largest in our Galaxy (after the hypergiant VY Canis Majoris). Its diameter is 2,644,800,000 km - this is 1600-1900 times the diameter of the Sun, and its luminosity is 275,000-575,000 times greater. The star fills the Roche lobe, and its material flows to the neighboring companion. The speed of gas outflow reaches 200 km/s. It has been established that VV Cephei A is a physical variable pulsating with a period of 150 days. The speed of the stellar wind flowing from the star reaches 25 km/s. Judging by its orbital motion, the mass of the star is about 100 solar, however, its luminosity indicates a mass of 25-40 solar. Weight - 25–40 or 100/20 M☉. Radius - 1600–1900/10 R☉.

20. VY Canis Majoris - a star in the constellation Canis Major, a hypergiant. It is perhaps the largest and one of the brightest known stars. The distance from Earth to VY Canis Majoris is approximately 5000 light years. The radius of the star is from 1800 to 2100 R☉. The diameter of this supergiant is about 2.5-2.9 billion kilometers. The mass of the star is estimated at 30-40 M☉, which indicates the negligible density of the star in its depths.

The solar system is a group of planets revolving in specific orbits around a bright star - the Sun. This star is the main source of heat and light in the solar system.

It is believed that our planetary system was formed as a result of the explosion of one or more stars and this happened about 4.5 billion years ago. At first, the Solar System was an accumulation of gas and dust particles, however, over time and under the influence of its own mass, the Sun and other planets arose.

Planets of the Solar System

At the center of the solar system is the Sun, around which eight planets move in their orbits: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Until 2006, Pluto also belonged to this group of planets; it was considered the 9th planet from the Sun, however, due to its significant distance from the Sun and small size, it was excluded from this list and called a dwarf planet. More precisely, it is one of several dwarf planets in the Kuiper belt.

All the above planets are usually divided into two large groups: terrestrial group and gas giants.

The terrestrial group includes such planets as: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. They differ small in size and a rocky surface, and in addition, they are located closest to the Sun.

Gas giants include: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. They are characterized by big sizes and the presence of rings representing ice dust and rocky chunks. These planets consist mainly of gas.

Mercury

This planet is one of the smallest in the solar system, its diameter is 4,879 km. In addition, it is closest to the Sun. This proximity predetermined a significant temperature difference. The average temperature on Mercury during the day is +350 degrees Celsius, and at night - -170 degrees.

1. Mercury is the first planet from the Sun.
2. There are no seasons on Mercury. The tilt of the planet's axis is almost perpendicular to the plane of the planet's orbit around the Sun.
3. The temperature on the surface of Mercury is not the highest, although the planet is located closest to the Sun. He lost first place to Venus.
4. The first research vehicle to visit Mercury was Mariner 10. It conducted a number of demonstration flights in 1974.
5. A day on Mercury lasts 59 Earth days, and a year is only 88 days.
6. Mercury experiences the most dramatic temperature changes, reaching 610 °C. During the day, temperatures can reach 430 °C, and at night -180 °C.
7. The gravity on the planet's surface is only 38% of Earth's. This means that on Mercury you could jump three times as high, and it would be easier to lift heavy objects.
8. The first observations of Mercury through a telescope were made by Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century.
9. Mercury has no natural satellites.
10. First official map surface of Mercury was published only in 2009, thanks to data obtained from the Mariner 10 and Messenger spacecraft.

Venus

This planet is the second from the Sun. In size it is close to the diameter of the Earth, the diameter is 12,104 km. In all other respects, Venus differs significantly from our planet. A day here lasts 243 Earth days, and a year lasts 255 days. The atmosphere of Venus is 95% composed of carbon dioxide, which creates on its surface Greenhouse effect. This results in an average temperature on the planet of 475 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere also contains 5% nitrogen and 0.1% oxygen.

1. Venus is the second planet from the Sun in the Solar System.
2. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, although it is the second planet from the sun. Surface temperature can reach 475 °C.
   
3. The first spacecraft sent to explore Venus was sent from Earth on February 12, 1961 and was called Venera 1.
4. Venus is one of two planets whose direction of rotation around its axis is different from most planets in the solar system.
5. The planet's orbit around the Sun is very close to circular.
6. The day and night temperatures of the surface of Venus are practically the same due to the large thermal inertia of the atmosphere.
7. Venus makes one revolution around the Sun in 225 Earth days, and one revolution around its axis in 243 Earth days, that is, one day on Venus lasts more than one year.
8. The first observations of Venus through a telescope were made by Galileo Galilei at the beginning of the 17th century.
9. Venus has no natural satellites.
10. Venus is the third brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and Moon.

Earth

Our planet is located at a distance of 150 million km from the Sun, and this allows us to create on its surface a temperature suitable for the existence of liquid water, and, therefore, for the emergence of life.

Its surface is 70% covered with water, and it is the only planet to contain such an amount of liquid. It is believed that many thousands of years ago, steam contained in the atmosphere created the temperature on the Earth's surface necessary for the formation of water in liquid form, and solar radiation contributed to photosynthesis and the birth of life on the planet.

1. Earth in the solar system is the third planet from the sunsA;
2. Our planet revolves around one natural satellite - the Moon;
   
3. Earth is the only planet not named after a divine being;
4. The Earth's density is the greatest of any planet in the solar system;
5. The Earth's rotation speed is gradually slowing down;
6. The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is 1 astronomical unit (a conventional measure of length in astronomy), which is approximately 150 million km;
7. The earth has magnetic field sufficient strength to protect living organisms on its surface from harmful solar radiation;
8. The first artificial Earth satellite, called PS-1 (The simplest satellite - 1), was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Sputnik launch vehicle on October 4, 1957;
9. In orbit around the Earth, compared to other planets, there is the largest number of spacecraft;
10. Earth is the largest terrestrial planet in the solar system;

Mars

This planet is the fourth from the Sun and is 1.5 times more distant from it than the Earth. The diameter of Mars is smaller than Earth's and is 6,779 km. The average air temperature on the planet ranges from -155 degrees to +20 degrees at the equator. The magnetic field on Mars is much weaker than that of Earth, and the atmosphere is quite thin, which allows unhindered solar radiation influence the surface. In this regard, if there is life on Mars, it is not on the surface.

When surveyed with the help of Mars rovers, it was found that there are many mountains on Mars, as well as dried river beds and glaciers. The surface of the planet is covered with red sand. It is iron oxide that gives Mars its color.

1. Mars is located in the fourth orbit from the Sun;
2. The Red Planet has the most high volcano in the solar system;
   
3. Of the 40 exploration missions sent to Mars, only 18 were successful;
4. Mars is home to some of the largest dust storms in the solar system;
5. In 30-50 million years, a system of rings will be located around Mars, like Saturn;
6. Debris from Mars has been found on Earth;
7. The Sun from the surface of Mars looks half as big as from the surface of the Earth;
   
8. Mars is the only planet in the solar system that has polar ice caps;
9. Two natural satellites revolve around Mars - Deimos and Phobos;
10. Mars has no magnetic field;

Jupiter

This planet is the largest in the solar system and has a diameter of 139,822 km, which is 19 times larger than Earth. A day on Jupiter lasts 10 hours, and a year is approximately 12 Earth years. Jupiter is mainly composed of xenon, argon and krypton. If it were 60 times larger, it could become a star due to a spontaneous thermonuclear reaction.

The average temperature on the planet is -150 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere consists of hydrogen and helium. There is no oxygen or water on its surface. There is an assumption that there is ice in the atmosphere of Jupiter.

1. Jupiter is located in the fifth orbit from the Sun;
2. In the Earth's sky, Jupiter is the fourth brightest object, after the Sun, Moon and Venus;
   
3. Jupiter has the shortest day of all the planets in the solar system;
4. In the atmosphere of Jupiter, one of the longest and most powerful storms in the solar system rages, better known as the Great Red Spot;
5. Jupiter's moon Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system;
6. Jupiter is surrounded by a thin system of rings;
7. Jupiter was visited by 8 research vehicles;
   
8. Jupiter has a strong magnetic field;
   
9. If Jupiter were 80 times more massive, it would become a star;
10. There are 67 natural satellites orbiting Jupiter. This is the largest in the Solar System;

Saturn

This planet is the second largest in the solar system. Its diameter is 116,464 km. It is most similar in composition to the Sun. A year on this planet lasts quite a long time, almost 30 Earth years, and a day lasts 10.5 hours. The average surface temperature is -180 degrees.

Its atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen and a small amount of helium. Thunderstorms and auroras often occur in its upper layers.

1. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun;
2. In the atmosphere of Saturn the most powerful winds blow strong winds in the solar system;
   
3. Saturn is one of the least dense planets in the solar system;
   
4. Surrounding the planet is the largest ring system in the Solar System;
5. One day on the planet lasts almost one Earth year and is equal to 378 Earth days;
6. Saturn was visited by 4 research spacecraft;
7. Saturn, together with Jupiter, constitutes approximately 92% of the total planetary mass of the Solar System;
8. One year on the planet lasts 29.5 Earth years;
9. There are 62 known natural satellites orbiting the planet;
10. Currently, the automatic interplanetary station Cassini is studying Saturn and its rings;

Uranus

Uranus, computer artwork.

Uranus is the third largest planet in the solar system and the seventh from the Sun. It has a diameter of 50,724 km. It is also called the “ice planet”, as the temperature on its surface is -224 degrees. A day on Uranus lasts 17 hours, and a year lasts 84 Earth years. Moreover, summer lasts as long as winter - 42 years. This a natural phenomenon This is due to the fact that the axis of that planet is located at an angle of 90 degrees to the orbit and it turns out that Uranus seems to be “lying on its side.”

1. Uranus is located in the seventh orbit from the Sun;
2. The first person to learn about the existence of Uranus was William Herschel in 1781;
   
3. Uranus has only been visited by one spacecraft, Voyager 2 in 1982;
4. Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system;
5. The plane of Uranus' equator is inclined to the plane of its orbit at almost a right angle - that is, the planet rotates retrograde, "lying on its side slightly upside down";
6. The moons of Uranus bear names taken from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, rather than Greek or Roman mythology;
7. A day on Uranus lasts about 17 Earth hours;
8. There are 13 known rings around Uranus;
9. One year on Uranus lasts 84 Earth years;
10. There are 27 known natural satellites orbiting Uranus;

Neptune

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. It is similar in composition and size to its neighbor Uranus. The diameter of this planet is 49,244 km. A day on Neptune lasts 16 hours, and a year is equal to 164 Earth years. Neptune is an ice giant and for a long time it was believed that no weather phenomena occurred on its icy surface. However, it was recently discovered that Neptune has raging vortices and wind speeds that are the highest among the planets in the solar system. It reaches 700 km/h.

Neptune has 14 moons, the most famous of which is Triton. It is known to have its own atmosphere.

Neptune also has rings. This planet has 6 of them.

1. Neptune is the most distant planet in the Solar System and occupies the eighth orbit from the Sun;
2. Mathematicians were the first to know about the existence of Neptune;
   
3. There are 14 satellites circling around Neptune;
4. Neputna's orbit is removed from the Sun by an average of 30 AU;
5. One day on Neptune lasts 16 Earth hours;
6. Neptune has only been visited by one spacecraft, Voyager 2;
7. There is a system of rings around Neptune;
8. Neptune has the second highest gravity after Jupiter;
9. One year on Neptune lasts 164 Earth years;
10. The atmosphere on Neptune is extremely active;

1. Jupiter is considered the largest planet in the solar system.
2. There are 5 dwarf planets in the Solar System, one of which has been reclassified as Pluto.
3. There are very few asteroids in the Solar System.
4. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
5. About 99% of the space (by volume) is occupied by the Sun in the Solar System.
6. The satellite of Saturn is considered one of the most beautiful and original places in the solar system. There you can see a huge concentration of ethane and liquid methane.
7. Our solar system has a tail that resembles a four-leaf clover.
8. The sun follows a continuous 11-year cycle.
9. There are 8 planets in the solar system.
10. The Solar System is fully formed thanks to a large gas and dust cloud.
11. Spacecraft have flown to all the planets of the solar system.
12. Venus is the only planet in the solar system that rotates counterclockwise around its axis.
13. Uranus has 27 satellites.
14. The largest mountain is on Mars.
15. A huge mass of objects in the solar system fell on the sun.
16. The solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy.
17. The sun is the central object of the solar system.
18. The solar system is often divided into regions.
19. The Sun is a key component of the Solar System.
20. The solar system was formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago.
21. The most distant planet in the solar system is Pluto.
22. Two regions in the Solar System are filled with small bodies.
23. The solar system was built contrary to all the laws of the Universe.
24. If you compare the solar system and space, then it is just a grain of sand in it.
25. Over the past few centuries, the solar system has lost 2 planets: Vulcan and Pluto.
26. Researchers claim that the solar system was created artificially.
27. The only satellite of the Solar System that has a dense atmosphere and whose surface cannot be seen due to cloud cover is Titan.
28. The region of the solar system that lies beyond the orbit of Neptune is called the Kuiper belt.
29. The Oort cloud is the region of the solar system that serves as the source of a comet and a long orbital period.
30. Every object in the solar system is held there due to the force of gravity.
31. The leading theory of the solar system involves the emergence of planets and moons from a huge cloud.
32. The solar system is considered the most secret particle of the Universe.
33. There is a huge asteroid belt in the solar system.
34. On Mars you can see the eruption of the big volcano Solar system, which is named Olympus.
35. Pluto is considered to be the outskirts of the solar system.
36. Jupiter has a large ocean of liquid water.
37. The Moon is the largest satellite of the Solar System.
38. Pallas is considered the largest asteroid in the solar system.
39. The brightest planet in the solar system is Venus.
40. The solar system is mostly made of hydrogen.
41. The Earth is an equal member of the solar system.
42. The sun heats up slowly.
43. Oddly enough, the largest reserves of water in the solar system are in the sun.
44. The equator plane of each planet in the solar system diverges from the orbital plane.
45. The satellite of Mars called Phobos is an anomaly in the solar system.
46. The solar system can amaze with its diversity and scale.
47. The planets of the solar system are influenced by the sun.
48. The outer shell of the Solar System is considered to be the haven of satellites and gas giants.
49. A huge number of planetary satellites of the solar system are dead.
50. The largest asteroid, with a diameter of 950 km, is called Ceres.

We are returning from the stars, so our flight begins from the farthest regions of the Solar System, from its outer part. And Pluto will appear first to our eyes.

Pluto- a tiny, cold planet located 40 times farther from the Sun than Earth. This planet was discovered only in 1930 and was named Pluto in honor of God underground kingdom in ancient mythology. The average temperature on the planet is –223°C.

The Hubble Space Telescope photographed the entire surface of the planet, after which a map of Pluto was compiled. Pluto's north pole is covered with a cap of snow.

From the day of its discovery in 1930 until 2006, Pluto was considered the ninth planet of the solar system. However, at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries, many objects were discovered in the outer solar system, for example, Eris, which is 27% more massive than Pluto. Since then, Pluto has been classified as a dwarf planet along with Eris and Ceres.

Pluto has a satellite - Charon. Pair celestial bodies forms a system that scientists call double dwarf planet. The center of mass of such a formation is in outer space.

And now we are approaching the farthest planet of the solar system, the eighth in a row - to Neptune.

Neptune's mass is 17.2 times, and the diameter of its equator is 3.9 times greater than that of Earth. The planet was named after the Roman god of the seas.

Discovered on September 23, 1846, Neptune became the first planet discovered through mathematical calculations rather than through regular observations.

The Voyager 2 space probe was able to reveal some of the secrets of this distant planet in 1989. The weather on Neptune is characterized by an extremely dynamic storm system, with winds sometimes reaching supersonic speeds (about 600 m/s)

The mass of Neptune's mantle is 10-15 times greater than Earth's, according to various estimates, and is rich in water, ammonia, methane and other compounds. According to the generally accepted terminology in planetary science, this matter is called icy, even though it is a hot, very dense liquid. However, the surface temperature of Neptune averages −200 °C

The next planet on our way is Uranus.

The seventh most distant planet from the Sun, the third in diameter and the fourth most massive planet in the Solar System. It was discovered in 1781 and named after greek god sky of Uranus.

Judge about internal structure Uranus is possible only by indirect signs.

Uranium is 60 times larger than our Earth, but its mass is only 14.5 times that of Earth. This is because the average density of Uranus is slightly higher than that of water. Such low densities are typical for all four giant planets, consisting predominantly of light chemical elements. It is believed that in the very center of Uranus there is a rocky core composed mainly of silicon oxides. The diameter of the core is 1.5 times larger than our entire Earth. Around it is a shell made of a mixture of water ice and rocks. Even higher follows global ocean liquid hydrogen, and then a very powerful atmosphere. Another model suggests that Uranus does not have a rocky core at all. In this case, Uranus should look like a huge ball of snow “porridge”, consisting of a mixture of liquid and ice, shrouded in a gaseous shell.

We are approaching a very beautiful planet, which is sometimes called the Lord of the Rings, to Saturn.

The fabulous rings of Saturn cannot be confused with any other objects in the solar system.

The width of the rings is 400 thousand km, but their thickness is only a few tens of meters. All rings consist of individual pieces of ice different sizes: from dust particles to several meters in diameter. These particles move at almost identical speeds (about 10 km/s, their speeds are so well balanced that neighboring particles appear motionless in relation to each other), sometimes colliding with each other.

For a long time it was believed that a careless satellite approached Saturn and was torn to shreds by its tidal forces, the remains of which turned into rings. But Voyager data refuted this popular belief. It has now been established that the rings of Saturn (and other planets too) are the remains of a huge circumplanetary cloud many millions of kilometers long.

If you put Saturn in water, it will float on the surface. The average density of Saturn's substance is almost 2 times less than the density of water. If you can find a corresponding glass (with a diameter of at least 60 thousand km), then you can check it yourself.

And finally, the last giant planet in the outer part of the system - Jupiter.

Jupiter, the fifth planet from the Sun, is a huge ball of gas.

Jupiter is 318 times larger than Earth in mass and 11.2 times in diameter.

There are 62 satellites moving around the giant. The most famous of them are: Adrastea, Metis, Amalthea, Thebe, Io, Lysithea, Elara, Ananke, Karme, Pasiphae, Sinope, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Leda and Himalia. 47 "moons" of Jupiter were discovered after 1997, when powerful telescopes became available. Jupiter also has a system of rings, which are a collection of small rock particles.

Let's fly closer to it to see one of Jupiter's most recognizable landmarks - the Great Red Spot.

The Great Red Spot is an anticyclone vortex raging in the planet's atmosphere. An ordinary hurricane, similar to ours on earth, but its magnitude is enormous.

Three planets like ours could fit inside the Great Red Spot. And it has been raging for 350 years before the eyes of humanity. And how long it raged before Giovanni Cassini was able to see it for the first time through a telescope in 1665, no one knows.

It is assumed that such a long existence of the vortex is due to the fact that it never has to collide with the “terrestrial firmament”, which extinguishes vortices on Earth - there is simply no firmament on Jupiter.

And now we are approaching the inner solar system. Passed a dwarf planet Ceres and approaching the mysterious Mars.

Mars- the fourth most distant planet from the Sun and the seventh largest planet in the solar system. This planet is named after Mars, the ancient Roman god of war. Mars is sometimes called the "Red Planet" because of the reddish tint of its surface given by iron oxide.

Temperatures on the planet range from −153 at the poles in winter to more than +20 °C at the equator at midday. Numerous studies and data transmitted from Mars rovers help us learn more about this neighbor. There is evidence that in the past the atmosphere may have been denser, the climate warmer and wetter, and there was liquid water and rainfall on the surface of Mars.

On July 25, 1976, the American Viking 1 spacecraft photographed Mars - specialists were choosing landing sites for future expeditions. Among others, a photograph of the Kydonia region, located on the Acidalia Plain, also came to Earth. From the photograph, the “Sphinx,” as this mysterious pyramid, mountain or hill was called, was clearly looking at us from space.

Is there still controversy surrounding this image? What is this, a bizarre play of light and shadow or traces of previous civilizations? Maybe in time you will solve this mystery?

Which planet, the third from the Sun, are we passing now? Of course, Earth.

We will wave to her, but we will continue without stopping for now.

Ahead of us lies a hot and sky-high Venus.

The most beautiful and closest of the planets, Venus, has captivated people's gaze for millennia. How many brilliant poems Venus gave birth to! No wonder she bears the name of the goddess of love. But no matter how much scientists study our closest neighbor in the solar system, the number of questions that are just waiting for answers does not decrease. The planet is full of mysteries and wonders.

Venus is not a planet for the weak. Not only is it hot, but thunderstorms are also raging on it and lightning is striking directly from clouds consisting of sulfuric acid.

The reason for the planet's heating is its dense clouds. They do not release heat outside, creating a greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect also occurs in the atmospheres of other planets. But if in the atmosphere of Mars it raises the average temperature at the surface by 9°, in the atmosphere of the Earth - by 35°, then in the atmosphere of Venus this effect reaches 400 degrees! The recorded maximum surface temperature is +480°C.

And finally, the last planet on the way to the Sun - Mercury.

This relatively small cosmic body has its own characteristics and secrets.

Mercury receives 7 times more solar energy than the Earth. Surface temperature at sunny side can rise up to 400 degrees Celsius! At the same time, severe frost reigns on the shady side (–200 degrees Celsius).

And now we are already at the goal of our journey, approaching the center of our system, to a star named Sun.

• 99% of the mass of the solar system is concentrated in the Sun. In one minute, the Sun produces more energy than the entire Earth uses in a year. The light of the Sun that you see is 30 thousand years old - this is exactly how long it takes for photons (particles of light) to “break through” from the center of the star to its surface. After that, they reach Earth in just 8 minutes. The temperature of the solar core is more than 13 million degrees.
• The sun revolves around the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, making full turn every 225 - 250 million years.
• We all see that the Sun is yellow or orange color, but in fact, it is white. The yellow tones of the Sun are given by a phenomenon called “atmospheric scattering.”
• Every second, 700 billion tons of hydrogen burns on the Sun. Despite such a huge rate of loss, the Sun’s energy will be enough for another 5 billion years of such life (about the same age for the Sun from birth).
• The corona is the last outer shell of the Sun. Despite her very high temperature, from 600,000 to 5,000,000 degrees, it is visible to the naked eye only during a total solar eclipse.
• The average density of the Sun is equal to the density of water in the Dead Sea.
• Every second, the Sun produces 100,000 times more energy than humanity has produced in its entire history.

Sometimes the Sun shows increased activity. We can observe it as flares and prominences.

> Diameter of the planets of the solar system

Explore diameter of the planets of the solar system in order. Detailed description with photo, time for axis rotation and indicators for diameter at the equator and poles.

The solar planets vary in size and shape. Some are incredibly huge, while others are very tiny and do not reach their satellites. For example, Mercury is inferior to Ganymede. Some planets are wider at the equatorial line than at the poles. Let's look at the diameters of the planets of the Solar System in km in order.

Diameter of Mercury - the first planet of the solar system

With a diameter of 4879 km, Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. It is only slightly larger than our Moon (3474 km) and is inferior to Jupiter's satellite Ganymede (5268 km) and Saturn's Titan (5152 km).

It is a terrestrial planet, which contains metals and silicate rocks, divided into an iron core, silicate mantle and crust. The sidereal period covers 58,646 days. There is no flattening at the poles, which means we have an almost ideal sphere.

Diameter of Venus - the second planet of the solar system

The diameter is 12,104 km and is not flattened at the poles, which means the figure is almost the same everywhere. Sidereal rotation is 243.025 days.

Diameter of the Earth - the third planet of the solar system

It has a diameter of 12,756 km and is considered the largest terrestrial planet. Flattening leads to the fact that we do not see an ideal sphere, and the polar diameter differs from the equatorial diameter by 41 km. The sidereal rotation of the Earth is 23 hours, 58 minutes and 4.1 seconds.

Diameter of Mars - the fourth planet of the solar system

The flatness at the poles reaches 0.00589, which leads to a difference in diameters at the poles (6752.4 km) and the equatorial line (6792.4 km) of 40 km. The sidereal day of Mars is 24 hours, 37 minutes and 22 seconds.

Diameter of Jupiter - the fifth planet of the solar system

With a diameter of 142,984 km, Jupiter is considered the largest planet in the solar system. The flattening is 0.06487, which hints at a rapid axial rotation of 9 hours, 55 minutes and 30 seconds. This means that the equatorial line is wider than the polar line (133708 km) by 9276 km.

Diameter of Saturn - the sixth planet of the solar system

With an indicator of 120,536 km, it is in 2nd position in size in the system. The situation with flattening (0.09796) due to the sidereal rotation at 10 hours and 33 minutes is repeated. Therefore, the polar diameter of Saturn (108,728 km) differs from the equatorial diameter (120,536 km) by 12,000 km.

Diameter of Uranus - the seventh planet of the solar system

Uranus is in 3rd position with an indicator of 50,724 km. The axial rotation lasts 17 hours, 14 minutes and 24 seconds. Therefore, the diameter at the poles is 49946 km, and at the equator – 51118 km. The difference is 1172 km (with a flattening index of 0.0229).

Neptune extends over 48,244 km. But it performs an axial rotation in 16 hours, 6 minutes and 36 seconds. So the difference is 846 km (48682 km and 49528 km).

As a result, the diameter is affected not only by the composition, but also by the speed of axial rotation. Gas giants rotate faster than the inner planets, so the difference is more noticeable.

Surely everyone at least once in their life has come across another list of natural wonders, which lists the most high mountain, the longest river, the driest and wettest regions of the Earth, and so on. Such records are impressive, but All of thempale in comparison with the size of space objects. Here we will look at them now...:

Mercury- is the smallest planet in the terrestrial group. The radius of Mercury is 2439.7 + 1.0 km. The planet's mass is 0.055 Earth's. Area 0.147 Earth.

Mars- surpassed in size only by Mercury. The mass of the planet is equal to 10.7% of the mass of the Earth. The volume is equal to 0.15 of the Earth's volume.

Venus- is closest to Earth in terms of its indicators. The orbital period is 224.7 Earth days. The volume is 0.857 Earth's. Mass - 0.815 Earth.

Earth- fourth largest on the list after Mercury.

Neptune- by mass Neptune more than Earth 17.2 times.

Uranus- slightly larger than Neptune.

Saturn- classified as a gas giant on a par with Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus. The radius of the planet is 57316 + 7 km. Weight: 5.6846 x 1026 kg.

Jupiter- the largest planet in the solar system. Classified as a gas giant. The radius of the planet is 69173 + 7 km. Weight - 1.8986 x 1027 kg.

Sun- the only star in the solar system. The mass of the Sun is equal to 99.866% of the total mass of our solar system, exceeding the mass of the Earth by 333,000 times. The diameter of the Sun is 109 times the diameter of the Earth. Volume - 1,303,600 Earth volumes.

Sirius- the brightest star in the night sky. Located in the constellation Canis Major. Sirius can be seen from any region of the Earth except the northernmost. Sirius is 8.6 light years from the solar system. Sirius is twice the size of our Sun.

Arcturus- the brightest star in the constellation Bootes. If you look up into the night sky, the second brightest star will be Arcturus.

Aldebaran- the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. Mass - 2.5 solar masses. Radius - 38 radii of the Sun.

Rigel- the brightest star in the Orion constellation, a blue-white supergiant. Rigel is located at a distance of 870 light years from our Sun. Rigel is 68 times larger than our Sun, and luminosity is 85,000 times stronger than the Sun. Rigel is considered one of the most powerful stars in the galaxy. Mass is 17 solar masses, radius is 70 solar radii.

Antares- the star is located in the constellation Scorpio and is considered the brightest in this constellation. Red supergiant. Distance 600 light years. The luminosity of Antares is 10,000 times stronger than the sun. The mass of the star is 15-18 solar masses. With such a large size and such a small mass, we can conclude that the density of the star is very low.

Betelgeuse- a red supergiant in the constellation Orion. The approximate distance to the star is 500-600 light years. The diameter of the star is approximately 1000 times greater than the diameter of the Sun. Betelgeuse's mass is equal to 20 solar masses. The star is 100,000 times brighter than the sun
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