Solar System Overview

Study Notes

The solar system consists of eight planets, five dwarf planets, and other smaller celestial bodies
Formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from a giant cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula

Mercury
- Closest to the sun, average distance of 58 million km
- Smallest planet, diameter of approximately 4,879 km
- Highly eccentric orbit
Venus
- Hottest planet, surface temperature up to 462°C
- Thick atmosphere, composed mostly of carbon dioxide
- No moons
Earth
- Third planet from the sun, average distance of 149.6 million km
- Only known planet to support life
- One large moon
Mars
- Known as the Red Planet due to iron oxide in the soil
- Average distance from the sun of 227.9 million km
- Has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons

Jupiter
- Largest planet, diameter of approximately 142,984 km
- Gas giant, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium
- 79 known moons
Saturn
- Second largest planet, diameter of approximately 116,460 km
- Known for its prominent ring system
- 62 known moons
Uranus
- Seventh planet from the sun, average distance of 2.88 billion km
- Tilted axis, resulting in extreme seasons
- 27 known moons
Neptune
- Eighth and farthest planet from the sun, average distance of 4.46 billion km
- Coldest planet, with temperatures as low as -224°C
- 14 known moons

Pluto
- Located in the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune
- Diameter of approximately 2,374 km
Eris
- Located in the scattered disc, a region beyond the Kuiper Belt
- Diameter of approximately 2,326 km
Haumea
- Located in the Kuiper Belt
- Unusual shape, resembling a rugby ball
Makemake
- Located in the Kuiper Belt
- Highly inclined orbit
Ceres
- Located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
- Largest object in the asteroid belt

Formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from a giant cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula
Consists of eight planets, five dwarf planets, and other smaller celestial bodies

Mercury: closest to the sun, with an average distance of 58 million km, and a diameter of approximately 4,879 km
Venus: hottest planet, with a surface temperature up to 462°C, and a thick atmosphere composed mostly of carbon dioxide
Earth: third planet from the sun, with an average distance of 149.6 million km, and the only known planet to support life
Mars: known as the Red Planet due to iron oxide in the soil, with an average distance from the sun of 227.9 million km, and the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons

Jupiter: largest planet, with a diameter of approximately 142,984 km, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium, and 79 known moons
Saturn: second largest planet, with a diameter of approximately 116,460 km, known for its prominent ring system, and 62 known moons
Uranus: seventh planet from the sun, with an average distance of 2.88 billion km, and a tilted axis, resulting in extreme seasons, and 27 known moons
Neptune: eighth and farthest planet from the sun, with an average distance of 4.46 billion km, and the coldest planet, with temperatures as low as -224°C, and 14 known moons

Pluto: located in the Kuiper Belt, with a diameter of approximately 2,374 km
Eris: located in the scattered disc, with a diameter of approximately 2,326 km
Haumea: located in the Kuiper Belt, with an unusual shape, resembling a rugby ball
Makemake: located in the Kuiper Belt, with a highly inclined orbit
Ceres: located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and the largest object in the asteroid belt