The Solar System Planets
- Mercury
- Position: Closest to the Sun
- Size: Smallest planet
- Surface: Rocky with many craters
- Atmosphere: Thin, composed mostly of oxygen, sodium, and hydrogen
- Temperature: Extreme variations, very hot during the day and very cold at night
- Venus
- Position: Second planet from the Sun
- Size: Similar to Earth in size and mass
- Surface: Volcanic and mountainous
- Atmosphere: Thick, primarily carbon dioxide, with clouds of sulfuric acid
- Temperature: Hottest planet due to greenhouse gas effect
- Earth
- Position: Third planet from the Sun
- Size: Largest of the terrestrial planets
- Surface: 71% covered by water, varied terrain including mountains, plains, and valleys
- Atmosphere: Nitrogen and oxygen-rich
- Temperature: Moderate, allowing for liquid water and diverse life forms
- Uranus
- Position: Seventh planet from the Sun
- Size: Third-largest planet by diameter
- Surface: No solid surface; composed mainly of hydrogen, helium, and methane
- Atmosphere: Methane gives it a blue-green color
- Temperature: Very cold, with an unusual axial tilt causing extreme seasonal variations
- Neptune
- Position: Eighth planet from the Sun
- Size: Fourth-largest planet by diameter
- Surface: No solid surface; composed mainly of hydrogen, helium, and methane
- Atmosphere: Known for strong winds and storms, methane gives it a deep blue color
- Temperature: Very cold, with some of the strongest winds in the solar system
Dwarf Planets
- Pluto
- Position: Located in the Kuiper Belt, beyond Neptune
- Size: Smaller than Earth’s moon
- Surface: Icy with mountains and plains
- Atmosphere: Thin, primarily nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide
- Temperature: Extremely cold
- Eris
- Position: Also in the Kuiper Belt
- Size: Slightly smaller than Pluto
- Surface: Icy
- Atmosphere: Thin, possibly similar to Pluto’s
- Temperature: Very cold
- Ceres
- Position: Located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
- Size: Largest object in the asteroid belt
- Surface: Rocky and icy
- Atmosphere: Very thin, almost negligible
- Temperature: Cold
These are the primary planets and some of the known dwarf planets in our solar system, each with unique characteristics.
Mars
- Position: Fourth planet from the Sun
- Size: About half the size of Earth
- Surface: Rocky with iron oxide (rust), giving it a reddish appearance
- Atmosphere: Thin, mostly carbon dioxide
- Temperature: Cold, with large temperature swings
Jupiter
- Position: Fifth planet from the Sun
- Size: Largest planet in the solar system
- Surface: No solid surface; composed mostly of hydrogen and helium
- Atmosphere: Thick, with prominent cloud bands and the Great Red Spot, a massive storm
- Temperature: Cold, with warmer temperatures in its deeper layers
Saturn
- Position: Sixth planet from the Sun
- Size: Second-largest planet
- Surface: No solid surface; composed mainly of hydrogen and helium
- Atmosphere: Known for its extensive ring system made of ice and rock
- Temperature: Cold, with warmer temperatures in deeper layers
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