There are a total eight planets in the solar system
–
Ø The planets are divided in the two groups – Inner planets and
Outer planets.
Ø Inner planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
Ø These are also known as terrestrial planets or rocky planets.
These are denser and have a shorter periods of revolution.
Ø Outer planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Ø These are also known as
Gas Giants or Gaseous planets. They are big in size and have a longer periods
of revolution.
Ø Jupiter is the biggest planet in the Solar System and Mercury is
the smallest.
Mercury
Ø Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.
Ø Mercury has No natural
satellites (moons).
Venus
Ø Venus is known as Earth’s twin.
Ø Longest rotation period of any planet.
Ø Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
Ø Revolves around the sun in clockwise manner while most others
are revolving in anti-clockwise.
Ø No natural satellites (moons).
Earth
Ø Earth is the only planet in the solar system to be known to
support life.
Ø Earth has water in all three states – liquid, solid and gas.
Ø Gasses present in the earth’s atmosphere are Nitrogen, Hydrogen,
Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide etc
Ø Earth takes 23 hour 56
minutes 46 seconds to rotate around its axis.
Ø Earth takes 365.26 days
to revolve around the Sun.
Ø The Ozone layer present in the Earth’s atmosphere protects it
from the ultra violet rays.
Ø Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth.
Mars
Ø Mars known as the ‘Red Planet’ due to presence of iron-rich red
soil.
Ø Phobos and Deimos are the two moons of Mars.
Ø Mars has the largest known volcano (and second tallest mountain)
in the solar system
Jupiter
Ø Jupiter is the largest planet of the solar system.
Ø Jupiter has the shortest rotation period.
Ø Jupiter has 67 moons. 4 largest moons Ganymede (largest moon in the solar system –
bigger than Mercury), Callisto, Io (volcanic), Europa (has water-ice).
Saturn
Ø Saturn is the second largest planet in the Solar system.
Ø Saturn has a band of concentric rings revolving around it made
up of tiny rocks and pieces of ice.
Ø Saturn has 62 moons. Titan is the largest
Uranus
Ø Uranus is the third biggest planet of the solar system.
Ø Composed of Hydrogen, Helium, Water, Ammonia, Methane.
Ø Uranus is tilted sideways so that its poles lie where most other
planets have their equators.
Ø Uranus Has 27 known moons (5 main – Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel,
Titania, Oberon).
Neptune
Ø Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun.
Ø Neptune is blue in color because of methane.
Ø Neptune has a storm called ‘Great Dark Spot’.
Ø Neptune has 14 known moons (Triton – largest)
Pluto
Ø Demoted to status of “Dwarf Planet”.
