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The Nine Planets is an encyclopedic overview with facts and information about mythology and current scientific knowledge of the planets, moons, and other objects in our solar system and beyond.
- Planets
The Planets of the Solar System Detailed information and...
- Solar System
The gas planets are composed primarily of hydrogen and...
- Objects
Latest Buyer’s Guides. How to choose your telescope...
- Questions
Frequently asked space questions to help you learn about...
- Buyer’s Guides
Space and Astronomy Product Reviews We review the best...
- Asteroids
These are all asteroids but also referred to as minor...
- Comets
Comet History. As of 1995, 878 comets have been cataloged...
- Constellations
The Nine Planets Constellation Facts & Information A...
- Planets
- Mercury
- Venus
- Earth
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
- Did You Know?
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Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is only 58 million km / 36 million mi or 0.39 AU away. Though it is the closest, it isn’t the hottest planet in the Solar System; Venus holds that titled. Mercury is, however, the smallest planet out of the eight. It is slightly larger than our Moonbut smaller than Ganymede – one of Jupiter’s moons. Merc...
The second closest planet to the Sun. Venusis on average at a distance of 108 million km / 67 million mi or 0.72 AU away from the Sun. It is the hottest planet of the Solar system since its atmosphere keeps the temperatures almost consistently the same. The temperatures are around 462 degrees Celsius – about four and a half times the amount of heat...
The third closest planet to the Sun. Earthis at an average distance of 150 million km / 93 million mi or 1 AU away from the Sun. It only has one moon and several other smaller satellites. Earth is the biggest terrestrial planet having a diameter of 12.760 km / 7.926 mi. Surface temperatures on Earth are around 14 degrees Celsius. Around 70% of Eart...
The fourth terrestrial planet and closest celestial body to the Sun. Marsis 228 million km / 142 million mi or 1.52 AU distance away from the Sun. Also known as the Red Planet due to its reddish hue primarily because of its iron oxide on its surface, Mars is very similar to Earth. It has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. Like Earth, it has volcanoes, v...
The fifth and most massive planet of the Solar System. Jupiteris 778 million km / 484 million mi or 5.2 AU away from the Sun. It is 317 times more massive than Earth and 2.5 times larger than all the other planets combined. Jupiter is a gas giant; it is primarily composed of hydrogen, helium, and other gases. Its atmosphere is the most intense in t...
The sixth planet from the Sun, and also a gas giant. Saturnis 1.4 billion km / 886 million mi or 9.5 AU distance away from the Sun. Seven ring systems surround it. The gas giant has been recently crowned as the king of the moons since it has 82 confirmed satellites. Its atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, helium, and other gases. Saturn’s diameter h...
The seventh planet from the Sun, the ice giant Uranus. Uranus is 2.9 billion km / 1.8 billion mi or 19.19 AU away from the Sun. It is classified as an ice giant due to the presence of ammonia, methane, water, and hydrocarbons in ice form. The presence of methane causes its bluish hue. It also has a ring system though it is very faint. It is the col...
The farthest planet, Neptune. It lies at around 4.5 billion km / 2.8 billion mi or 30.07 AU away from the Sun. Like Uranus, it is also an ice giant. It has a series of faint planetary rings, around 14 confirmed moons, and it has the fastest wind speeds of any planet, reaching speeds of 2.160 km / 1.314 mi per hour. One day on Neptune lasts 16 hours...
Since Pluto has a very elliptical orbit, it can sometimes get closer to the Sun and Earth than Neptune.The most cratered planet of the solar system is Mercury.Some believe that Saturn and Jupiter came close once and thus provoked the Great Flood on Earth.Every 15 years, the rings of Saturn briefly disappear from view due to their angle.Learn about the eight planets in our Solar System, their distances from the Sun, sizes, temperatures, atmospheres, moons, and more. Find out how they are classified as terrestrial, gas, or ice giants and why Pluto is not a planet.
The largest objects that orbit the Sun are the eight planets. In order from the Sun, they are four terrestrial planets ( Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars ); two gas giants ( Jupiter and Saturn ); and two ice giants ( Uranus and Neptune ). All terrestrial planets have solid surfaces.
Dec 6, 2019 · The Planets of the Solar System Detailed information and facts about the eight planets and five dwarf planets in our solar system.
Jun 12, 2024 · Learn about the Sun and the eight planets that orbit around it, as well as their satellites, asteroids, comets, and other features. Explore the history, formation, and evolution of the solar system with Britannica's articles, videos, and diagrams.
Learn about the eight planets and five dwarf planets in our solar system, their sizes, locations, features, and exploration missions. Find out how NASA is studying exoplanets beyond our solar system and the possible existence of Planet Nine.
Mar 29, 2023 · The order of the planets in the solar system, starting nearest the sun and working outward is the following: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and then the possible...
