What are the number of large planets in the solar system. solar system

The planetary system, called the Solar system, includes the central luminary - the Sun, as well as many space objects of different sizes and status. This system was formed as a result of the compression of a cloud of dust and gas more than 4 billion years ago. Most of the solar planet's mass is concentrated in the Sun. Eight large planets orbit the star in nearly circular orbits located within a flat disk.

The inner planets of the solar system are considered to be Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars (in order of distance from the Sun). These celestial bodies are classified as terrestrial planets. Next come the largest planets - Jupiter and Saturn. The series is completed by Uranus and Neptune, located farthest from the center. Orbiting the dwarf planet Pluto at the very edge of the system.

Earth is the third planet in the solar system. Like other large bodies, it revolves around the Sun in a closed orbit, subject to the gravitational force of the star. The sun attracts celestial bodies to itself, preventing them from approaching the center of the system or flying away into space. Together with the planets, smaller bodies - meteors, comets, asteroids - rotate around the central star.

Features of planet Earth

The average distance from Earth to the center of the solar system is 150 million km. The location of the third planet turned out to be extremely favorable from the point of view of the emergence and development of life. The Earth receives a tiny amount of heat from the Sun, but this energy is quite enough for living organisms to exist within the planet. On Venus and Mars, the closest neighbors of the Earth, conditions in this regard are less favorable.

Among the planets of the so-called terrestrial group, the Earth stands out for its greatest density and size. The composition of the local atmosphere, which contains free oxygen, is unique. The presence of a powerful hydrosphere also gives the Earth its originality. These factors have become one of the main conditions for the existence of biological forms. Scientists believe that the formation of the internal structure of the Earth still continues due to tectonic processes occurring in its depths.

The Moon, its natural satellite, is located in close proximity to the Earth. This is the only space object that people have visited to date. The average distance between the Earth and its satellite is about 380 thousand km. The lunar surface is covered with dust and rocky debris. There is no atmosphere on the Earth's satellite. It is possible that in the distant future the territory of the Moon will be developed by earthly civilization.

The endless space that surrounds us is not just a huge airless space and emptiness. Here everything is subject to a single and strict order, everything has its own rules and obeys the laws of physics. Everything is in constant motion and is constantly interconnected with each other. This is a system in which each celestial body occupies its specific place. The center of the Universe is surrounded by galaxies, among which is our Milky Way. Our galaxy, in turn, is formed by stars around which large and small planets with their natural satellites revolve. The picture of a universal scale is completed by wandering objects - comets and asteroids.

In this endless cluster of stars our Solar System is located - a tiny astrophysical object by cosmic standards, which includes our cosmic home - planet Earth. For us earthlings, the size of the solar system is colossal and difficult to perceive. In terms of the scale of the Universe, these are tiny numbers - only 180 astronomical units or 2.693e+10 km. Here, too, everything is subject to its own laws, has its own clearly defined place and sequence.

Brief characteristics and description

The interstellar medium and the stability of the Solar System are ensured by the location of the Sun. Its location is an interstellar cloud included in the Orion-Cygnus arm, which in turn is part of our galaxy. From a scientific point of view, our Sun is located on the periphery, 25 thousand light years from the center of the Milky Way, if we consider the galaxy in the diametrical plane. In turn, the movement of the Solar system around the center of our galaxy is carried out in orbit. A complete revolution of the Sun around the center of the Milky Way is carried out in different ways, within 225-250 million years and is one galactic year. The orbit of the Solar System has an inclination of 600 to the galactic plane. Nearby, in the neighborhood of our system, other stars and other solar systems with their large and small planets are running around the center of the galaxy.

The approximate age of the Solar System is 4.5 billion years. Like most objects in the Universe, our star was formed as a result of the Big Bang. The origin of the Solar System is explained by the same laws that operated and continue to operate today in the fields of nuclear physics, thermodynamics and mechanics. First, a star was formed, around which, due to the ongoing centripetal and centrifugal processes, the formation of planets began. The Sun was formed from a dense accumulation of gases - a molecular cloud, which was the product of a colossal Explosion. As a result of centripetal processes, molecules of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and other elements were compressed into one continuous and dense mass.

The result of grandiose and such large-scale processes was the formation of a protostar, in the structure of which thermonuclear fusion began. We observe this long process, which began much earlier, today, looking at our Sun 4.5 billion years after its formation. The scale of the processes occurring during the formation of a star can be imagined by assessing the density, size and mass of our Sun:

• density is 1.409 g/cm3;
• the volume of the Sun is almost the same figure - 1.40927x1027 m3;
• star mass – 1.9885x1030 kg.

Today our Sun is an ordinary astrophysical object in the Universe, not the smallest star in our galaxy, but far from the largest. The Sun is in its mature age, being not only the center of the solar system, but also the main factor in the emergence and existence of life on our planet.

The final structure of the solar system falls on the same period, with a difference of plus or minus half a billion years. The mass of the entire system, where the Sun interacts with other celestial bodies of the Solar System, is 1.0014 M☉. In other words, all the planets, satellites and asteroids, cosmic dust and particles of gases revolving around the Sun, compared to the mass of our star, are a drop in the bucket.

The way we have an idea of ​​our star and the planets revolving around the Sun is a simplified version. The first mechanical heliocentric model of the solar system with a clock mechanism was presented to the scientific community in 1704. It should be taken into account that the orbits of the planets of the solar system do not all lie in the same plane. They rotate around at a certain angle.

The model of the solar system was created on the basis of a simpler and more ancient mechanism - tellurium, with the help of which the position and movement of the Earth in relation to the Sun was simulated. With the help of tellurium, it was possible to explain the principle of the movement of our planet around the Sun and to calculate the duration of the earth's year.

The simplest model of the solar system is presented in school textbooks, where each of the planets and other celestial bodies occupies a certain place. It should be taken into account that the orbits of all objects revolving around the Sun are located at different angles to the central plane of the Solar System. The planets of the Solar System are located at different distances from the Sun, rotate at different speeds and rotate differently around their own axis.

A map - a diagram of the Solar System - is a drawing where all objects are located in the same plane. In this case, such an image gives an idea only of the sizes of celestial bodies and the distances between them. Thanks to this interpretation, it became possible to understand the location of our planet among other planets, to assess the scale of celestial bodies and to give an idea of ​​the enormous distances that separate us from our celestial neighbors.

Planets and other objects of the Solar system

Almost the entire universe is made up of myriads of stars, among which there are large and small solar systems. The presence of a star with its own satellite planets is a common occurrence in space. The laws of physics are the same everywhere and our solar system is no exception.

If you ask yourself how many planets there were in the solar system and how many there are today, it is quite difficult to answer unequivocally. Currently, the exact location of 8 major planets is known. In addition, 5 small dwarf planets revolve around the Sun. The existence of a ninth planet is currently disputed in scientific circles.

The entire solar system is divided into groups of planets, which are arranged in the following order:

Terrestrial planets:

• Mercury;
• Venus;
• Mars.

Gas planets - giants:

• Jupiter;
• Saturn;
• Uranus;
• Neptune.

All planets presented in the list differ in structure and have different astrophysical parameters. Which planet is larger or smaller than the others? The sizes of the planets of the solar system are different. The first four objects, similar in structure to the Earth, have a solid rock surface and are endowed with an atmosphere. Mercury, Venus and Earth are the inner planets. Mars closes this group. Following it are the gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune - dense, spherical gas formations.

The process of life of the planets of the solar system does not stop for a second. Those planets that we see in the sky today are the arrangement of celestial bodies that the planetary system of our star has at the current moment. The state that existed at the dawn of the formation of the solar system is strikingly different from what has been studied today.

The astrophysical parameters of modern planets are indicated by the table, which also indicates the distance of the planets of the Solar System to the Sun.

The existing planets of the solar system are approximately the same age, but there are theories that in the beginning there were more planets. This is evidenced by numerous ancient myths and legends that describe the presence of other astrophysical objects and disasters that led to the death of the planet. This is confirmed by the structure of our star system, where, along with the planets, there are objects that are products of violent cosmic cataclysms.

A striking example of such activity is the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Objects of extraterrestrial origin are concentrated here in huge numbers, mainly represented by asteroids and small planets. It is these irregularly shaped fragments that are considered in human culture to be the remains of the protoplanet Phaethon, which perished billions of years ago as a result of a large-scale cataclysm.

In fact, there is an opinion in scientific circles that the asteroid belt was formed as a result of the destruction of a comet. Astronomers have discovered the presence of water on the large asteroid Themis and on the small planets Ceres and Vesta, which are the largest objects in the asteroid belt. Ice found on the surface of asteroids may indicate the cometary nature of the formation of these cosmic bodies.

Previously one of the major planets, Pluto is not considered a full-fledged planet today.

Pluto, which was previously ranked among the large planets of the solar system, is today reduced to the size of dwarf celestial bodies revolving around the Sun. Pluto, along with Haumea and Makemake, the largest dwarf planets, is located in the Kuiper belt.

These dwarf planets of the solar system are located in the Kuiper belt. The region between the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud is the most distant from the Sun, but space is not empty there either. In 2005, the most distant celestial body of our solar system, the dwarf planet Eris, was discovered there. The process of exploration of the most distant regions of our solar system continues. The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud are hypothetically the border regions of our star system, the visible boundary. This cloud of gas is located at a distance of one light year from the Sun and is the region where comets, the wandering satellites of our star, are born.

Characteristics of the planets of the solar system

The terrestrial group of planets is represented by the planets closest to the Sun - Mercury and Venus. These two cosmic bodies of the solar system, despite the similarity in physical structure with our planet, are a hostile environment for us. Mercury is the smallest planet in our star system and is closest to the Sun. The heat of our star literally incinerates the surface of the planet, practically destroying its atmosphere. The distance from the surface of the planet to the Sun is 57,910,000 km. In size, only 5 thousand km in diameter, Mercury is inferior to most large satellites, which are dominated by Jupiter and Saturn.

Saturn's satellite Titan has a diameter of over 5 thousand km, Jupiter's satellite Ganymede has a diameter of 5265 km. Both satellites are second in size only to Mars.

The very first planet rushes around our star at tremendous speed, making a full revolution around our star in 88 Earth days. It is almost impossible to notice this small and nimble planet in the starry sky due to the close presence of the solar disk. Among the terrestrial planets, it is on Mercury that the largest daily temperature differences are observed. While the surface of the planet facing the Sun heats up to 700 degrees Celsius, the back side of the planet is immersed in universal cold with temperatures up to -200 degrees.

The main difference between Mercury and all the planets in the solar system is its internal structure. Mercury has the largest iron-nickel inner core, which accounts for 83% of the mass of the entire planet. However, even this uncharacteristic quality did not allow Mercury to have its own natural satellites.

Next to Mercury is the closest planet to us - Venus. The distance from Earth to Venus is 38 million km, and it is very similar to our Earth. The planet has almost the same diameter and mass, slightly inferior in these parameters to our planet. However, in all other respects, our neighbor is fundamentally different from our cosmic home. The period of Venus' revolution around the Sun is 116 Earth days, and the planet rotates extremely slowly around its own axis. The average surface temperature of Venus rotating around its axis over 224 Earth days is 447 degrees Celsius.

Like its predecessor, Venus lacks the physical conditions conducive to the existence of known life forms. The planet is surrounded by a dense atmosphere consisting mainly of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Both Mercury and Venus are the only planets in the solar system that do not have natural satellites.

Earth is the last of the inner planets of the solar system, located at a distance of approximately 150 million km from the Sun. Our planet makes one revolution around the Sun every 365 days. Rotates around its own axis in 23.94 hours. The Earth is the first of the celestial bodies located on the path from the Sun to the periphery, which has a natural satellite.

Digression: The astrophysical parameters of our planet are well studied and known. Earth is the largest and densest planet of all the other inner planets in the solar system. It is here that natural physical conditions have been preserved under which the existence of water is possible. Our planet has a stable magnetic field that holds the atmosphere. Earth is the most well studied planet. The subsequent study is mainly of not only theoretical interest, but also practical one.

Mars closes the parade of terrestrial planets. The subsequent study of this planet is mainly not only of theoretical interest, but also of practical interest, associated with human exploration of extraterrestrial worlds. Astrophysicists are attracted not only by the relative proximity of this planet to Earth (on average 225 million km), but also by the absence of difficult climatic conditions. The planet is surrounded by an atmosphere, although it is in an extremely rarefied state, has its own magnetic field, and temperature differences on the surface of Mars are not as critical as on Mercury and Venus.

Like Earth, Mars has two satellites - Phobos and Deimos, the natural nature of which has recently been questioned. Mars is the last fourth planet with a rocky surface in the solar system. Following the asteroid belt, which is a kind of inner boundary of the solar system, begins the kingdom of gas giants.

The largest cosmic celestial bodies of our solar system

The second group of planets that are part of the system of our star has bright and large representatives. These are the largest objects in our solar system, which are considered the outer planets. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the most distant from our star, huge by earthly standards and their astrophysical parameters. These celestial bodies are distinguished by their massiveness and composition, which is mainly gaseous in nature.

The main beauties of the solar system are Jupiter and Saturn. The total mass of this pair of giants would be quite enough to fit in it the mass of all known celestial bodies of the Solar System. So Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, weighs 1876.64328 1024 kg, and the mass of Saturn is 561.80376 1024 kg. These planets have the most natural satellites. Some of them, Titan, Ganymede, Callisto and Io, are the largest satellites of the Solar System and are comparable in size to the terrestrial planets.

The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, has a diameter of 140 thousand km. In many respects, Jupiter more closely resembles a failed star - a striking example of the existence of a small solar system. This is evidenced by the size of the planet and astrophysical parameters - Jupiter is only 10 times smaller than our star. The planet rotates around its own axis quite quickly - only 10 Earth hours. The number of satellites, of which 67 have been identified to date, is also striking. The behavior of Jupiter and its moons is very similar to the model of the solar system. Such a number of natural satellites for one planet raises a new question: how many planets were there in the Solar System at the early stage of its formation. It is assumed that Jupiter, having a powerful magnetic field, turned some planets into its natural satellites. Some of them - Titan, Ganymede, Callisto and Io - are the largest satellites of the solar system and are comparable in size to the terrestrial planets.

Slightly smaller in size than Jupiter is its smaller brother, the gas giant Saturn. This planet, like Jupiter, consists mainly of hydrogen and helium - gases that are the basis of our star. With its size, the diameter of the planet is 57 thousand km, Saturn also resembles a protostar that has stopped in its development. The number of satellites of Saturn is slightly inferior to the number of satellites of Jupiter - 62 versus 67. Saturn's satellite Titan, like Io, a satellite of Jupiter, has an atmosphere.

In other words, the largest planets Jupiter and Saturn with their systems of natural satellites strongly resemble small solar systems, with their clearly defined center and system of movement of celestial bodies.

Behind the two gas giants come the cold and dark worlds, the planets Uranus and Neptune. These celestial bodies are located at a distance of 2.8 billion km and 4.49 billion km. from the Sun, respectively. Due to their enormous distance from our planet, Uranus and Neptune were discovered relatively recently. Unlike the other two gas giants, Uranus and Neptune contain large quantities of frozen gases - hydrogen, ammonia and methane. These two planets are also called ice giants. Uranus is smaller in size than Jupiter and Saturn and ranks third in the solar system. The planet represents the pole of cold of our star system. The average temperature on the surface of Uranus is -224 degrees Celsius. Uranus differs from other celestial bodies revolving around the Sun by its strong tilt on its own axis. The planet seems to be rolling, revolving around our star.

Like Saturn, Uranus is surrounded by a hydrogen-helium atmosphere. Neptune, unlike Uranus, has a different composition. The presence of methane in the atmosphere is indicated by the blue color of the planet's spectrum.

Both planets move slowly and majestically around our star. Uranus orbits the Sun in 84 Earth years, and Neptune orbits our star twice as long - 164 Earth years.

In conclusion

Our Solar System is a huge mechanism in which each planet, all satellites of the Solar System, asteroids and other celestial bodies move along a clearly defined route. The laws of astrophysics apply here and have not changed for 4.5 billion years. Along the outer edges of our solar system, dwarf planets move in the Kuiper belt. Comets are frequent guests of our star system. These space objects visit the inner regions of the Solar System with a periodicity of 20-150 years, flying within visibility range of our planet.

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Names of the planets of the Solar System: where do they come from?

Humanity still knows nothing about the origin of the name of which planet? The answer will surprise you...

Most cosmic bodies in the Universe received their names in honor of ancient Roman and Greek deities. Modern names of planets in the solar system are also associated with ancient mythological characters. And only one planet is an exception to this list: its name has nothing to do with the ancient gods. What space object are we talking about? Let's figure it out.

Planets of the Solar System.

Science knows for sure about the existence of 8 planets in the solar system. Not long ago, scientists expanded this list with the discovery of a ninth planet, whose name has not yet been officially announced, so let’s leave it alone for now. Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, due to their location and gigantic size, are combined into a single, external group. Mars, Earth, Venus and Mercury are classified as the terrestrial inner group.

The location of the planets.

Until 2006, Pluto was considered a planet in the solar system, but careful exploration of outer space has changed ideas about this object. It was classified as the largest cosmic body in the Kuiper belt. Pluto was given the status of a dwarf planet. Known to mankind since 1930, it owes its name to an Oxford schoolgirl, Venice Bernie. By voting by astronomers, the choice fell on the option of an eleven-year-old girl, who proposed to name the planet in honor of the Roman god - the patron saint of the underworld and death.

Pluto and its moon Charon.

Its existence became known in the middle of the 19th century (1846), when the cosmic body was discovered through mathematical calculations by John Couch Adams and Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier. The name of the new planet in the solar system caused a discussion between astronomers: each of them wanted to perpetuate their name in the name of the object. To end the dispute, they proposed a compromise option - the name of the god of the seas from ancient Roman mythology.

Neptune: the name of a planet in the solar system.

Initially, the planet had several names. Discovered in 1781, they decided to christen it after the discoverer W. Herschel. The scientist himself wanted to honor the British ruler George III with a similar honor, but astronomers proposed to continue the tradition of his ancestors and, like the 5 most ancient planets, give a “divine” name to the cosmic body. The main contender was the Greek god of the sky, Uranus.

Uranus.

The existence of a giant planet was known back in the pre-Christian era. When choosing a name, the Romans decided to settle on the God of Agriculture.

Giant planet Saturn.

The name of the Roman supreme god is embodied in the name of the planet in the solar system - the largest of them. Like Saturn, Jupiter was known for a very long time, because it was not difficult to see the giant in the sky.

Jupiter.

The reddish tint of the planet’s surface is associated with bloodshed, which is why the Roman god of war gave the name to the space object.

"Red Planet" Mars.

Almost nothing is known about the name of our home planet. We can certainly say that its name has nothing to do with mythology. The first mention of the planet's modern name was recorded in 1400. It is associated with the Anglo-Saxon term for soil or ground - "Earth". But there is no information about who called the Earth “earth”.

This is a system of planets, in the center of which there is a bright star, a source of energy, heat and light - the Sun.
According to one theory, the Sun was formed along with the Solar System about 4.5 billion years ago as a result of the explosion of one or more supernovae. Initially, the Solar System was a cloud of gas and dust particles, which, in motion and under the influence of their mass, formed a disk in which a new star, the Sun, and our entire Solar System arose.

At the center of the solar system is the Sun, around which nine large planets revolve in orbit. Since the Sun is displaced from the center of planetary orbits, during the cycle of revolution around the Sun the planets either approach or move away in their orbits.

There are two groups of planets:

Terrestrial planets: And . These planets are small in size with a rocky surface and are closest to the Sun.

Giant planets: And . These are large planets, consisting mainly of gas and characterized by the presence of rings consisting of icy dust and many rocky chunks.

But does not fall into any group because, despite its location in the solar system, it is located too far from the Sun and has a very small diameter, only 2320 km, which is half the diameter of Mercury.

Planets of the Solar System

Let's begin a fascinating acquaintance with the planets of the Solar System in order of their location from the Sun, and also consider their main satellites and some other space objects (comets, asteroids, meteorites) in the gigantic expanses of our planetary system.

Rings and moons of Jupiter: Europa, Io, Ganymede, Callisto and others...
The planet Jupiter is surrounded by a whole family of 16 satellites, and each of them has its own unique features...

Rings and moons of Saturn: Titan, Enceladus and others...
Not only the planet Saturn has characteristic rings, but also other giant planets. Around Saturn, the rings are especially clearly visible, because they consist of billions of small particles that revolve around the planet, in addition to several rings, Saturn has 18 satellites, one of which is Titan, its diameter is 5000 km, which makes it the largest satellite in the solar system...

Rings and moons of Uranus: Titania, Oberon and others...
The planet Uranus has 17 satellites and, like other giant planets, there are thin rings surrounding the planet that have practically no ability to reflect light, so they were discovered not so long ago in 1977, completely by accident...

Neptune's rings and moons: Triton, Nereid and others...
Initially, before the exploration of Neptune by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, two satellites of the planet were known - Triton and Nerida. An interesting fact is that the Triton satellite has a reverse direction of orbital motion; strange volcanoes were also discovered on the satellite that erupted nitrogen gas like geysers, spreading a dark-colored mass (from liquid to vapor) many kilometers into the atmosphere. During its mission, Voyager 2 discovered six more moons of the planet Neptune...

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

2. What planets are part of the solar system?

Terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) and giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune).

3. Complete the sentences regarding the general characteristics of the planets of the solar system

Option 1.

• The planet with the largest semi-axis of its orbit isNeptune.
• Which giant planet comes closest to Earth:Jupiter.
• Which planet from the terrestrial group has the longest period of revolution around the Sun:Mars.
• The largest planet in size isJupiter.
• Has the largest mass of the terrestrial planetsEarth.
• Which planet has the smallest mass:Mercury.
• Which planet has the most average density:Saturn.
• The planet with the longest period of rotation around its axis isVenus.
• Planet with one satellite -Earth.
• There are the following giant planets in the Solar System:Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Option 2.

• Which planet orbits at the closest distance from the Sun:Mercury.
• The planet that comes closest to Earth isVenus.
• The giant planet with the shortest period of revolution around the Sun isJupiter.
• Which terrestrial planet is the largest in size?Earth.
• The planet with the largest mass isJupiter.
• The planet whose mass is closest to the mass of the Earth isVenus.
• The planet with the highest average density is -Earth.
• The planet that rotates the fastest around its axis isJupiter.
• Planets that do not have a satellite:Mercury and Venus.
• Terrestrial planets:Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.

4. Complete the sentences concerning the basic properties of the bodies of the Solar System

The bulk of the solar system is concentrated in Sun.

Shape of planets' orbits almost circular.

Planetary orbital planes almost coincide with the plane of the ecliptic.

Most planets rotate around their axes in one direction, with the exception of Venus and Uranus.

What groups are planets divided into based on their physical and dynamic properties? terrestrial planets and giant planets.

5. A certain pattern is observed in a number of numbers expressing the average distances of planets from the Sun. Calculate the values ​​of the semimajor axes of the planets’ orbits using the Titius-Bode formula and draw a conclusion

Conclusions: The rule of planetary distances fits well the true distances of planets from the Sun up to Uranus (with an error of 0.5 AU for Saturn and Uranus. The orbit of Neptune does not fit into the rule.