Planets in Our Solar System

Planets

Definition

• A planet is a celestial body that:
  • Is in orbit around the Sun
  • Has sufficient mass to assume a hydrostatic equilibrium shape (i.e., it is nearly round in shape)
  • Has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit

Types of Planets

• Terrestrial Planets: small, rocky planets with a solid surface
  • Examples: Mercury, Mars, Earth
• Gas Giants: large, gaseous planets with no solid surface
  • Examples: Jupiter, Saturn
• Ice Giants: large, icy planets with a thick atmosphere
  • Examples: Uranus, Neptune

Characteristics of Planets

• Size: ranges from Mercury ( smallest) to Jupiter (largest)
• Composition: varies from rocky to gaseous to icy
• Atmosphere: some planets have a thin atmosphere, while others have a thick one
• Temperature: ranges from extremely cold to extremely hot
• Moons: some planets have many moons, while others have none

Planetary Features

• Rings: some planets have ring systems, made up of ice and rock particles
  • Examples: Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune
• Magnetic Fields: some planets have a strong magnetic field, which protects them from solar winds
  • Examples: Earth, Jupiter, Saturn
• Mountains and Volcanoes: some planets have geological features, such as mountains and volcanoes
  • Examples: Earth, Mars

Planets

Definition

• A planet must orbit around the Sun, have sufficient mass to be nearly round in shape, and have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.

Types of Planets

• Terrestrial planets are small, rocky, and have a solid surface, with examples including Mercury, Mars, and Earth.
• Gas giants are large, gaseous, and have no solid surface, with examples including Jupiter and Saturn.
• Ice giants are large, icy, and have a thick atmosphere, with examples including Uranus and Neptune.

Characteristics of Planets

• Planet size ranges from Mercury (smallest) to Jupiter (largest).
• Planet composition varies from rocky to gaseous to icy.
• Atmospheres of planets range from thin to thick.
• Temperatures of planets range from extremely cold to extremely hot.
• Moons of planets vary in number, with some having many and others having none.

Planetary Features

• Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune have ring systems composed of ice and rock particles.
• Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn have strong magnetic fields that protect them from solar winds.
• Earth and Mars have geological features such as mountains and volcanoes.