Exploring the Solar System

Study Notes

The solar system consists of 8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, and numerous smaller bodies like moons, asteroids, and comets.
The solar system is approximately 4.6 billion years old.

Mercury:
- Closest planet to the Sun
- Smallest planet in the solar system
- Highly elliptical orbit
Venus:
- Hottest planet in the solar system
- Thick atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide
- No moons
Earth:
- Third planet from the Sun
- Only known planet with life
- One large moon
Mars:
- Rocky planet with a thin atmosphere
- Potential for life in the past or present
- Two small moons
Jupiter:
- Largest planet in the solar system
- Gas giant composed mostly of hydrogen and helium
- Many moons, including the largest moon in the solar system, Ganymede
Saturn:
- Another gas giant
- Known for its prominent ring system
- Many moons, including Titan and Enceladus
Uranus:
- Ice giant with a tilted axis
- Thin atmosphere and a system of rings and moons
Neptune:
- Coldest planet in the solar system
- Strongest winds in the solar system
- Few moons and a faint ring system

Pluto:
- Formerly considered the 9th planet
- Located in the Kuiper Belt
- Small, icy body with a highly eccentric orbit
Eris:
- Located in the Kuiper Belt
- Slightly larger than Pluto
- Has a small moon
Ceres:
- Located in the asteroid belt
- Largest object in the asteroid belt
- Possible water ice on its surface
Haumea:
- Located in the Kuiper Belt
- Highly eccentric orbit
- Irregular shape
Makemake:
- Located in the Kuiper Belt
- Highly inclined orbit
- No moons

Asteroids:
- Small, rocky objects in the asteroid belt
- Many are remnants of the early solar system
Comets:
- Icy bodies that release gas and dust when close to the Sun
- Originates from the outer solar system
Kuiper Belt:
- Region of icy bodies beyond Neptune's orbit
- Source of many short-period comets
Oort Cloud:
- Distant, spherical shell of icy bodies surrounding the solar system
- Source of long-period comets

The solar system is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
It consists of 8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, and numerous smaller bodies like moons, asteroids, and comets.

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in the solar system.
Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system with a thick atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide.
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet with life.
Earth has one large moon.
Mars is a rocky planet with a thin atmosphere and potential for life in the past or present.
Mars has two small moons.
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, a gas giant composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.
Jupiter has many moons, including the largest moon in the solar system, Ganymede.
Saturn is another gas giant known for its prominent ring system.
Saturn has many moons, including Titan and Enceladus.
Uranus is an ice giant with a tilted axis and a thin atmosphere.
Uranus has a system of rings and moons.
Neptune is the coldest planet in the solar system with the strongest winds.
Neptune has few moons and a faint ring system.

Pluto is a small, icy body with a highly eccentric orbit located in the Kuiper Belt.
Eris is located in the Kuiper Belt and is slightly larger than Pluto with a small moon.
Ceres is located in the asteroid belt and is the largest object in the asteroid belt with possible water ice on its surface.
Haumea is located in the Kuiper Belt with a highly eccentric orbit and an irregular shape.
Makemake is located in the Kuiper Belt with a highly inclined orbit and no moons.

Asteroids are small, rocky objects in the asteroid belt, many of which are remnants of the early solar system.
Comets are icy bodies that release gas and dust when close to the Sun and originate from the outer solar system.
The Kuiper Belt is a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune's orbit and is the source of many short-period comets.
The Oort Cloud is a distant, spherical shell of icy bodies surrounding the solar system and is the source of long-period comets.