Our Solar System

By:

Muskaan Aggarwal

Contents

• Introduction• Terms• Sun• Mercury• Venus• Earth• Mars • Jupiter• Saturn• Uranus• Neptune• Facts

Introduction

The Sun and the celestial bodies which revolve

around it form the solar system. It consists of

large number of bodies such as

planets, comers, asteroids and meteors. The

gravitational attraction between the Sun and

these objects keeps them revolving around it.

Let us study more about its components.

Terms

• Star- A huge body made of hot luminous gas that is held together by

its own gravity. Compared to other stars, our Sun is a star of

average size and energy

• Planets- A large body that orbits a star. For example: Earth,

Mars , Venus etc.

• Asteroid ( or minor planet)- A body smaller than a planet and made

of rock, metal, or other minerals. There is a large belt of asteroids

between Mars and Jupiter.

• Moon ( or satellite)- A body that orbits a planet or asteroid. Most

moons are much smaller than their planet or asteroid.

Terms

• Comet- An object composed of frozen gases and dust particles that was formed on the outskirts of the solar system and that orbits the Sun.

• Meteor- Also known as shooting star. A chunk of rock or metal that enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up in a fiery show.

• Meteorite- A chunk of rock or metal that has fallen into the Earth from beyond its atmosphere.

• Meteorite- A chunk of rock moving through space.

Sun• The Sun is the solar system’s star and its chief

component. It is the main source of heat and light for

all components of the solar system. It attracts all

other bodies with its strong gravitational pull. It

makes up for more than 99% of all mass in the solar

system. It is an average star. Eight planets revolve

around the Sun. They are: Mercury, Venus, Earth,

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune.

Mercury

Characteristics

Distance From Sun 57 million Km.

Equatorial Diameter 4878 km.

One year 88 days

Moons None

Temperature Range -183oC - 423oC

Conditions Dry, no atmosphere

Extra Points It is the smallest planet.

Venus

Distance from Sun 108,208,900 Km.

Equatorial Diameter 12,103 Km.

One year 243 days

Moons None

Temperature Range Around 467oC

Conditions Hottest Planet, Thick Atmosphere

Extra Points It rotates clockwise

Earth

Distance from Sun 150 million Km.

Equatorial Diameter 6,790Km.

One Year 356 days 6 hours

Moons One

Temperature Range -120.C – 25 .C

Conditions Good conditions for life.

Extra Points The only planet with life.

MarsDistance From Sun 230 million Km.

Equatorial Diameter 6794 Km.

One Year 686.971 Earth Days

Moons 2: Phobos and Deimos

Temperature Range -87oC : 20oC

Conditions Thin atmosphere, mainly Co2

Extra Points Named after Ares, God of War

Jupiter

Distance From 778 million Km.

Equatorial Diameter 142,948 Km.

One Year 11.86 Earth Years

Moons 64 known satellites

Temperature Range -145oC- 21oC

Conditions It has no surface.

Extra Points It is the largest planet.

Saturn

Distance From Sun 1430 Million Km.

Equatorial Diameter 120,536 Km.

One Year 29 ½ Years

Moons 62

Temperature Range -150oC - 11700oC

Conditions Hot core which radiates more heat

than received

Extra Points Rings are mostly made of sand

dust with traces of ice

UranusDistance From Sun 3075 Million Km.

Equatorial Diameter 51,118 Km.

One Year 84 Earth Years

Moons 27

Temperature Minimum: 224oC

Conditions Very Strong winds

Extra Points Has axis tilt of 97.77oC

Neptune

Distance From Sun 4500 Million Km.

Equatorial Diameter 49,532 Km

One Year 165 years

Moons 13

Temperature Range -218oC - 5000oC

Conditions Surface comprises of ice and rock

Extra Points Farthest planet from Sun

Facts

• The Solar System has 4 dwarf planets Ceres,

Pluto, Eris and Makemake.

• It is 4.6 billion years old.

• There is water on Mars.( In the form of Ice)

• Neptune has the fastest winds of all planets.

• Neptune’s moon, Triton is colder than Neptune.

Facts

• Jupiter’s mass is 318 times the Earth’s mass.

• It is the fastest rotating planet.

• Half of Mercury has never been seen

• Venus has phases like the moon.

• Uranus experiences summer for 42 years i.e.

just ONE long day!!!!