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The solar system
- Introduction
- The solar system is a vast and complex system that is made up of numerous celestial bodies. In this article, we will be focusing on the planets in our solar system and their respective mass and radius.
- Mercury
- Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, with a mass of 0.33 Earths and a radius of 0.38 Earths. It is the closest planet to the sun and has a highly eccentric orbit, which causes its temperature to vary between -173°C and 427°C. Despite its small size, Mercury has a significant core, making up about 75% of its mass.
- Venus
- Venus is the second planet from the sun and has a mass of 0.82 Earths and a radius of 0.95 Earths. It is often referred to as Earth's twin due to its similar size, mass, and composition. However, Venus has a dense atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, which causes a runaway greenhouse effect, making it the hottest planet in the solar system, with temperatures reaching up to 471°C.
- Earth
- Earth is the third planet from the sun and has a mass of 1 Earth and a radius of 1 Earth. It is the only known planet to support life, and its atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases. Earth's distance from the sun, along with its atmosphere and magnetic field, allow it to maintain a stable climate and protect its inhabitants from harmful solar radiation.
- Mars
- Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and has a mass of 0.11 Earths and a radius of 0.53 Earths. It is known as the Red Planet due to its reddish appearance, caused by iron oxide on its surface. Mars has a thin atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, and its surface features include canyons, volcanoes, and polar ice caps.
- Jupiter
- Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a mass of 318 Earths and a radius of 11.2 Earths. It is a gas giant and has no solid surface, with its atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter has the most extensive system of moons in the solar system, with over 70 confirmed moons.
- Saturn
- Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and has a mass of 95 Earths and a radius of 9.4 Earths. It is also a gas giant, with its atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. Saturn is known for its distinctive rings, which are composed mainly of ice particles and dust.
- Uranus
- Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun and has a mass of 14.5 Earths and a radius of 4 Earths. It is an ice giant, with its atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen, helium, and methane. Uranus has an unusual orientation, with its axis of rotation tilted at an angle of 98 degrees relative to its orbit.
- Neptune
- Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun and has a mass of 17 Earths and a radius of 3.8 Earths. It is also an ice giant, with its atmosphere composed mainly of hydrogen, helium, and methane. Neptune has the most active weather system among the ice giants, with large storms and winds reaching speeds of up to 2,100 km/h.
- The mass of Earth is approximately 5.97 x 1024 kilograms, and the radius of Earth is approximately 6,371 kilometers.