Natural satellites of the planets of the solar system. Solar system. Planets of the solar system

Just the other day my mother told me: she comes into the room in the evening, sees me (I was only five or six years old) looking outside the window and crying. When asked what upset me, I answered: “I feel sorry for the Moon, the Earth only has one.” The next day, mom opened the book to a page about the planet, which there were satellites more than everyone else- so as not to reassure my daughter later.

Planet with the most moons

If we talk about the solar system, the undisputed leader here is Jupiter. Him as many as 69 satellites- those who are definitely not lonely without company. Moreover, these are only those that we managed to find - it is assumed that in practice theirabout a hundred.

It was thanks to them that Jupiter acquired its unusual striped color.


Galilean satellites

The very first moons of Jupiter were discovered by Galileo. Of course, his telescope was not very powerful, which is why he saw only four the biggest Jovian moons:


I came up with names for them Simon Mari. His first records were actually dated earlier than Galileo, but the scientist made a fatal mistake - he delayed the publication. Mari tried for a very long time to prove that it was he who discovered satellites first. He failed, but as a consolation prize he received opportunity to name them as he pleases.


And I chose names from mythology for the name - in honor of the beloved of the god Jupiter. The idea was not bad, but even the loving god clearly did not have so many loving affections.

Jupiter - the thief of satellites

Some of Jupiter's moons rotate in the opposite side . It is believed that they were ordinary cosmic bodies, they moved on their own and did not touch anyone, but unfortunately they ended up in a gravitational field gas giant– and now they have to revolve around him.


But since you’re going to revolve around the invader, you have to do it in defiance of everyone. This movement is called retrograde. They are quite easy to recognize by their names. The rule is: if the name ends with the letter “e”, then the satellite is moving in reverse direction.

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Since childhood, I loved astronomy, which is why I studied this science well. My favorite planet was Jupiter. Jupiter -the most big planet Solar system, this gas giant is the fifth in distance from the Sun, and has a large number of satellites.

Jupiter has the largest number of satellites

Since ancient times, Jupiter was known to our ancestors; they composed many legends about this planet and called it by the names of their deities. Modern name the planet bears the name of a Roman deity - thunderer Jupiter. On Earth, Jupiter can be seen with the naked eye. and it's not strange, because The planet is second only to the Sun in mass. Some scientists believe that if Jupiter were a little larger, it would turn into another Sun in our system. Since the planet does not have a solid surface and liquid water, it is believed that life on it is impossible, but scientists suggest the existence of life in upper layers its atmosphere.

Large moons of Jupiter

Jupiter Andhas at least sixty seven satellites, but perhaps there are many more of them, the number of satellites may exceed a hundred. It is ironic that the satellites were given the names of deities somehow related to the divine Jupiter. The most famous moons of Jupiter:

  • Europa is a satellite of Jupiter, whichhas an ocean and where there is the presence of water, the presence of life is not excluded. Also in the ocean waters of Europe there is a huge amount of oxygen, and this, in turn, makes it possible for the emergence of not only single-celled, but also more complex forms of life;
  • And about - volcanic planet, which is covered with great volcanoes and the products of their eruptions;
  • Ganymede -largest satellite in the entire solar system. Covered with deep craters that indicate frequent falls meteor showers;
  • Callisto- a planet that also It has ocean water , like on Europa, life may exist on Callisto.

These four satellites synchronously rotate around Jupiter and always face one side towards it.

Small satellites of Jupiter

The remaining satellites often have irregular shape and represent rocky bodies. One of the most interesting small satellites - Amalthea. Amalthea was once a whole body, but due to meteorite bombardment, it broke up into parts, which were united under the influence of gravity, but never became a single whole.

It is assumed that the giant Jupiter once had much more satellites, but due to the strong gravity of the planet, they fell to its surface.

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IN school years I really loved astronomy. Observations of stars, observation diaries - there was a special romance in this, which not everyone understands. The telescope was a cherished dream for me. And when they gave it to me, first I began to look at the planets. And my first object was not Saturn, with its rings. It was Jupiter, because of the galaxy of satellites.


How many moons does Jupiter have?

On this moment 79 satellites are known: from dwarfs with a diameter of several kilometers to almost full-fledged planets. In addition, Jupiter has its own ring system. In addition, the number 79 is most likely not final. New satellites are still being discovered today, the last one became known this year, 2018.

It is simply impossible to list all these objects; most of them have alphanumeric names. But it’s worth mentioning the most basic ones, discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610. These include:

  • Europe;
  • Ganymede;
  • Calisto.

Their names were given by Simon Marius, another great scientist. They are taken from ancient Greek myths. These satellites can be considered the most unusual. Thus, Europe is completely covered with ice, under which there is an ocean. Scientists even admit the presence of life in it. And Io is the owner of the largest active volcano in the solar system.


Why does Jupiter have so many moons?

The number of Jupiter's satellites can be attributed to the fact that it is the largest object in our native solar system, after the Sun itself. Therefore, in the past, it easily captured small planets flying in similar orbits into its gravitational field. It also captured various dust, fragments, and asteroids, which served as the foundation for the formation of some satellites already in orbit around the giant.

How many satellites do other planets have?

Don't forget that other planets also have beads of objects orbiting around them. So, Saturn has 62 of them, Uranus has 27, Neptune has 14. Not far away is the dwarf Pluto, which has as many as five satellites.


So it turns out that our solar system is amazing and unique. Sometimes, to see miracles, all you have to do is look at the sky.

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In the summer of 2011, I excitedly watched the launch of the Juno interplanetary station to study Jupiter. It had to fly to the planet that had the most satellites in the solar system. The robot station did it. Powered by solar batteries, it transmitted so much data that scientists will be busy deciphering it for several years.


How many moons does Jupiter have?

It is almost 2.5 times larger than all the planets in the solar system together. This huge mass, compared to the Sun, even shifts the center of gravity beyond its limits. Such colossal size and weight of the planet determine the huge number of satellites and the presence of dust rings.

In the 17th century, Galileo saw large satellites through a telescope:

  • Europe;
  • Ganymede;
  • Callisto.

By the seventies of the 19th century, 9 more satellites were discovered.

Voyager 1, traveling to Saturn past Jupiter, recorded the presence of three new satellites in 1979. Later, 51 satellites were discovered thanks to new types of telescopes.

Jupiter is believed to have at least 100 “moons,” the study of which continues.


The largest

Io, the closest satellite to Jupiter, is affected by the gravitational forces of both the planet and Ganymede with Europa, which leads to heating of the body, deformation and active volcanic activity. Io's movement causes severe thunderstorms on Jupiter.

Europa is covered in water, in which life is believed to exist. The temperature on the surface is 150-220 degrees Celsius below zero - a “crystal” satellite with a metal core and a rocky mantle. There is oxygen in the atmosphere.

Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System. It is larger than Mercury. The surface is covered with ice and dotted with numerous craters, and oxygen is found in the atmosphere.


Callisto is composed of water and rocks and is the body with the oldest surface. This is the site of a planned space base for Europa exploration.

Internal and external

In inner orbit to Io are:

  • Metis;
  • Amalthea;
  • Adrastea;
  • Thebe.

59 external satellites have been recorded. Those close to Jupiter rotate with it in the same direction, the rest - in the opposite direction.

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Of all the satellites of the solar system, several of the most unusual can be distinguished. They all have some interesting features, which will be discussed below.

Ganymede is the largest moon

Jupiter's moon Ganymede itself is very similar to the Moon, but it is much larger and is the largest satellite of all. solar system. Another feature is the presence magnetic poles. Ganymede is slightly larger than Mercury and slightly smaller than Mars; it could be mistaken for a planet if it also revolved around the Sun.

Ganymede

Miranda is not the most attractive companion

The satellites of Uranus are not very presentable. A satellite called Miranda stands out from all these satellites. Its name is beautiful, but appearance Not good. However, a closer look at Miranda's surface reveals the most diverse landscape in the solar system: giant ridges alternate with deep plains, and some canyons are 12 times deeper than the famous Grand Canyon!

Miranda

Callisto - crater champion

Jupiter's satellite Calisto immediately appears to be a dead planet that has no signs of life. A lot of meteorites fell on this satellite and, accordingly, they all left behind traces, which are now presented in the form of craters on the satellite. This is the main thing distinctive feature Calisto. It has the largest number of craters of all the planets and satellites of the Solar System.

Callisto (bottom and left), Jupiter (top and right) and Europa (below and left of the Great Red Spot)

Dactyl is a satellite of an asteroid

Dactyl is a satellite whose main distinguishing feature is that it is the smallest of all the satellites in the solar system. It is only 1.6 km long, but it orbits the asteroid. Dactyl is the companion of Ida. According to ancient Greek myth, Ida was the name of a mountain in which tiny creatures lived - dactyls.

Asteroid Ida and its satellite Dactyl

Epimetheus and Janus - the eternal race

In the distant past, the two satellites of Saturn were one, but after the split they began to move almost in the same orbit, changing places every four years and miraculously avoiding collision.

Epimetheus and Janus

Enceladus the Ringbearer

Enceladus is one of the largest moons of Saturn. Almost all of it falls on him and is reflected sunlight, as a result of which it is considered the most reflective object in the Solar System. Enceladus has geysers that emit water vapor and dust into outer space. Scientists believe that it was due to the volcanic activity of its satellite that Saturn acquired an E ring, through which Enceladus’ orbit will lie.

E Ring and Enceladus

Triton - a satellite with unique volcanoes

Triton is Neptune's largest satellite. This satellite differs from others in that it revolves around the planet in the direction opposite to its rotation around the Sun. Triton has a large number of volcanoes that emit non-lava, water and ammonia, which freeze instantly afterwards.

Triton

Europe - ocean satellite

Europa is a satellite of Jupiter that has the smoothest surface. This feature is due to the fact that Europe is all covered with ocean, and on its surface there is a thin layer of ice. Under the ice there is a huge amount of liquid - several times more than on Earth. Some researchers who study this satellite have come to the conclusion that there may be life in Europa's ocean.

Europe

Io is a volcanic hell

On Jupiter's moon Io constantly occurs volcanic activity. This is due to the very nature of the planet Jupiter, as a result of which the bowels of the satellite are subject to heating. There are more than 400 volcanoes on the surface, and volcano formation occurs continuously; they can be easily noticed when flying past. But for the same reason, craters are practically invisible on the surface of Io, since they are filled with lava that erupts from volcanoes.

Titan is the best candidate for colonization

Saturn's moon Titan is the most unpredictable and unique satellite. It has long been proven that it has a denser atmosphere than on Earth. Which contains nitrogen, methane and other gases. For a long time it was unknown what was hidden under these thick clouds of the satellite, and only after the device took pictures, it became clear that there were rivers and lakes of a metonic and titanium nature. It is assumed that Titan also has underground reservoirs, which, coupled with low gravity, makes it a better candidate for colonization by earthlings.

Titan's upper atmosphere and South Pole Saturn

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Moon

(Moon) Average radius: 1737.10 km. Rotation period: one side is turned towards the Earth.

The Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth. The second brightest object in the earth's sky after the Sun and the fifth largest natural satellite of the planets of the solar system. It is also the first and only celestial body, besides the Earth, visited by man. The average distance between the centers of the Earth and the Moon is 384,467 km (0.00257 AU).

Apparent magnitude full moon in the earthly sky -12.7”.

The geological structure of the Moon is similar to that of the Earth. It also has a crust, an upper mantle, a middle mantle, a lower mantle (asthenosphere) and a core. The surface of our satellite is covered with so-called regolith - a mixture of rocky debris and fine dust that was formed as a result of collisions of meteorites with the surface of the satellite. During the day, the surface of the Moon heats up to +120 °C, and at night or even in the shadow it cools down to -160 °C. Scientists have recorded seismic processes on the Moon caused by the influence of the Earth.

In July 2008, American geologists discovered in soil samples of the Moon traces of water that was released in large quantities from the bowels of the satellite in the early stages of its existence. Later most of this water evaporated into space. These results were also confirmed by Russian and Indian scientists.

There is virtually no atmosphere on the Moon. That's why the sky is always black, even during the day. The Earth's disk looks from the Moon 3.7 times larger than the Moon from the Earth and “hangs in the sky” almost motionless. The Earth's phases as seen from the Moon are exactly opposite lunar phases on the ground.

Deimos

(Deimos) Diameter: 12.4 km. Rotation period: one side is turned towards Mars.

Deimos is the outer satellite of Mars, for a long time considered the smallest satellite in the solar system. It, like the Moon, revolves around Mars, turning the same side towards it. The dimensions of the satellite are extremely small by astronomical standards - only about 15 km across.

Deimos consists of rocky rocks covered with regolith - a debris-dust layer up to several tens of meters thick. It consists of minerals, glass, lithified breccias, and fragments of meteorites. The surface of Deimos appears quite smooth due to the fact that many of the craters are covered with fine-grained material.

The satellite has only two geological features with proper names. These are the Swift and Voltaire craters, named after the writers Jonathan Swift and Voltaire, who predicted the existence of two moons on Mars before their discovery.

Johannes Kepler also spoke about the existence of two satellites on Mars in 1610. He believed that if the Earth has one satellite, and Jupiter has 4, then the number of satellites increases exponentially. Therefore, Mars must have 2 satellites.

The honor of discovering the satellites of Mars belongs to the American astronomer Asaph Hall. After a series of observations at the Naval Observatory in Washington, he recorded the presence of two satellites and the parameters of their orbits. Official date of this discovery on August 12, 1877.

Phobos

(Phobos) Diameter: 22.2 km. Rotation period: one side is turned towards Mars.

Phobos is the inner satellite of Mars, like the Moon, revolving around Mars, turning the same side towards it. The dimensions of the satellite are extremely small by astronomical standards - only about 22 km across. Phobos makes one revolution around Mars in 7 hours 39 minutes 14 seconds, which is faster than the rotation of Mars around its own axis. Therefore, in the Martian sky, Phobos rises in the west and sets in the east. The gravitational forces of interaction with Mars gradually slow down the movement of Phobos, which in 11 million years will lead to its fall onto Mars. Every year Phobos approaches Mars by 9 cm.

The largest crater on Phobos has a diameter of almost 9 km and occupies a significant part of the surface of Phobos. A system of parallel grooves of regular geometric shape up to 30 km long and 100-200 meters wide was discovered near it. According to one hypothesis, Phobos is an asteroid that became a satellite of Mars about 4.5 billion years ago. Its composition is similar to stony meteorites.

The first clear photographs of Phobos were obtained by several spacecraft, main goal which was photographing Mars. First, in 1971, Mariner 9 did this, followed by Viking 1 in 1977, Phobos 2 in 1989, Mars Global Surveyor in 1998 and 2003, and Mars Express in 2004 and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2007 and 2008. On January 9, 2011, Mars Express approached Phobos to within 100 km and took photographs with a resolution of 16 m. At the same time, the first stereoscopic images of the satellite were obtained.

Triton

(Triton) Average radius: 2706.8 km. Orbital period around Neptune: 5.88 days.

Triton is Neptune's largest moon and the only large moon in the Solar System that moves in the opposite direction to the planet's rotation. Its orbit is strongly inclined to the planet's equatorial plane and to the ecliptic plane.

The surface of the satellite reflects sunlight well, since it is covered with methane and nitrogen ice. There are few impact craters on it, which indicates the geological activity of the satellite. In total, only about 40% of Triton's surface has been explored.

Mainly in western hemisphere A rather large area of ​​the satellite is occupied by an unusual topography reminiscent of a melon crust, which gave it the name - Melon Peel Area. Such a surface is found nowhere else in the Solar System. Triton has a thin atmosphere and extensive clouds have been recorded at an altitude of about 100 km above the surface.

Most of the data about the satellite was obtained using the Voyager 2 spacecraft, which approached it in July - September 1989. At the same time, the radius of the moon was clarified and detailed photographs of its surface were obtained.

Triton was discovered by English astronomer William Lassell in 1846, 17 days after the discovery of the planet itself. He was named after God depths of the sea V Greek mythology. However, until the middle of the 20th century, the name “satellite of Neptune” was more common, since Neptune’s second satellite, Nereid, was discovered only in 1949.

Charon

(Charon) Average radius: 1212 km. Orbital period around Pluto: 6.387 days.

Charon, a moon of Pluto, discovered in 1978, is controversial among scientists. Due to its comparative big size, according to one theory it is considered a smaller component of the double planetary system Pluto-Charon.

It is likely that Pluto and its satellite differ significantly in composition. The planet is covered with nitrogen ice, while Charon is covered with water ice, and its surface has more dark color. It is currently believed that the Pluto-Charon system could have formed as a result of the collision of independently formed Pluto and proto-Charon.

The satellite may detect liquid beneath the surface. Spectral analysis showed the presence of ammonia hydrates on its surface, which under the influence of solar and cosmic rays should be transformed within short term into liquid

From February 1985 to October 1990, astronomers observed extremely rare phenomena: alternating eclipses of the Pluto-Charon system. They occur approximately every 124 years. Since Charon's orbital period is slightly less than a week, eclipses were repeated every three days and made it possible to compile “brightness maps” and also more accurately estimate the radius of Pluto (1151-1200 km).

The satellite is named after the character ancient greek mythology Charon - the carrier souls of the dead across the river Styx. The New Horizons mission spacecraft is heading to Pluto and Charon, and is scheduled to arrive in orbit around the binary system in 2015.

Satellites and planets of the solar system

The natural satellites of planets play a huge role in the life of these space objects. Moreover, even we humans are capable of feeling the influence of our planet’s only natural satellite – the Moon.

The natural satellites of the planets of the solar system have aroused keen interest among astronomers since ancient times. To this day, scientists are studying them. What are these space objects?

Natural satellites of planets are cosmic bodies natural origin that orbit the planets. The most interesting for us are natural satellites planets of the solar system, since they are in close proximity to us.

There are only two planets in the solar system that do not have natural satellites. These are Venus and Mercury. Although it is assumed that Mercury previously had natural satellites, this planet lost them in the process of its evolution. As for the rest of the planets in the solar system, each of them has at least one natural satellite. The most famous of them is the Moon, which is our planet’s faithful cosmic companion. Mars has, Jupiter -, Saturn -, Uranus -, Neptune -. Among these satellites we can find both very unremarkable objects, consisting mainly of stone, and very interesting specimens that deserve special attention, and which we will discuss below.

Classification of satellites

Scientists divide planetary satellites into two types: satellites of artificial origin and natural ones. Satellites of artificial origin or, as they are also called, artificial satellites- These are spacecraft created by people that make it possible to observe the planet around which they orbit, as well as other astronomical objects from space. Typically, artificial satellites are used to monitor the weather, radio broadcasts, changes in the topography of the planet's surface, and also for military purposes.

The ISS is the largest artificial satellite of the Earth

It should be noted that not only the Earth has satellites of artificial origin, as many people believe. More than a dozen artificial satellites created by mankind revolve around the two closest planets to us - Venus and Mars. They allow you to monitor climatic conditions, changes in relief, as well as receiving other up-to-date information regarding our space neighbors.

Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system

The second category of satellites - natural satellites of planets, represents for us huge interest In this article. Natural satellites differ from artificial ones in that they were created not by man, but by nature itself. It is believed that most of the satellites of the solar system are asteroids that were captured by the gravitational forces of the planets of this system. Subsequently, the asteroids took on a spherical shape and, as a result, began to revolve around the planet that captured them as a constant companion. There is also a theory that says that the natural satellites of planets are fragments of these planets themselves, which for one reason or another broke away from the planet itself during the process of its formation. By the way, according to this theory, this is how the Earth’s natural satellite, the Moon, came into being. This theory is confirmed chemical analysis composition of the Moon. He showed that the chemical composition of the satellite is practically no different from the chemical composition of our planet, where the same chemical compounds, as on the Moon.

Interesting facts about the most interesting satellites

One of the most interesting natural satellites of the planets of the solar system is the natural satellite. Charon, in comparison with Pluto, is so huge that many astronomers call these two space objects nothing more than a double dwarf planet. The planet Pluto is only twice the size of its natural satellite.

The natural satellite is of keen interest to astronomers. Most of the natural satellites of the solar system's planets are composed primarily of ice, rock, or both, resulting in them lacking an atmosphere. However, Titan has this, and quite dense one, as well as lakes of liquid hydrocarbons.

Another natural satellite that gives scientists hope for discovering extraterrestrial life forms is Jupiter’s satellite. It is believed that under the thick layer of ice that covers the satellite there is an ocean, within which there are thermal springs- exactly the same as on Earth. Since some deep-sea life forms on Earth exist thanks to these sources, it is believed that similar life forms may exist on Titan.

The planet Jupiter has another interesting natural satellite -. Io is the only satellite of a planet in the solar system on which astrophysicists first discovered active volcanoes. It is for this reason that it is of particular interest to space researchers.

Natural satellite research

Research on the natural satellites of the planets of the Solar System has interested the minds of astronomers since ancient times. Since the invention of the first telescope, people have been actively studying these celestial objects. The breakthrough in the development of civilization made it possible not only to discover a colossal number of satellites of various planets of the solar system, but also to set man on the main, closest to us, satellite of the Earth - the Moon. July 21, 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong and his crew spaceship Apollo 11 first set foot on the surface of the Moon, which caused rejoicing in the hearts of humanity at that time and is still considered one of the most important and significant events in space exploration.

In addition to the Moon, scientists are actively studying other natural satellites of the planets of the solar system. To do this, astronomers use not only visual and radar observation methods, but also use modern spacecraft, as well as artificial satellites. For example, the “” spacecraft for the first time transmitted to Earth images of several of Jupiter’s largest satellites:,. In particular, it was thanks to these images that scientists were able to record the presence of volcanoes on the moon Io, and the ocean on Europa.

Today, the global community of space researchers continues to be actively engaged in the study of the natural satellites of the planets of the solar system. In addition to various government programs There are also private projects aimed at studying these space objects. In particular, the world-famous American company Google is currently developing a tourist lunar rover, on which many people could take a walk on the Moon.

solar system– these are 8 planets and more than 63 of their satellites, which are being discovered more and more often, several dozen comets and a large number of asteroids. All cosmic bodies move along their own clearly directed trajectories around the Sun, which is 1000 times heavier than all the bodies in the solar system combined. The center of the solar system is the Sun, a star around which the planets orbit. They do not emit heat and do not glow, but only reflect the light of the Sun. There are now 8 officially recognized planets in the solar system. Let us briefly list them all in order of distance from the sun. And now a few definitions.

Planet- This heavenly body, which must satisfy four conditions:
1. the body must revolve around a star (for example, around the Sun);
2. the body must have sufficient gravity to have a spherical or close to it shape;
3. the body should not have other large bodies near its orbit;
4. the body should not be a star

Star is a cosmic body that emits light and is a powerful source of energy. This is explained, firstly, by the thermonuclear reactions occurring in it, and secondly, by the processes of gravitational compression, as a result of which a huge amount of energy is released.

Satellites of the planets. The solar system also includes the Moon and the natural satellites of other planets, which they all have except Mercury and Venus. Over 60 satellites are known. Most of the satellites of the outer planets were discovered when they received photographs taken by robotic spacecraft. Jupiter's smallest satellite, Leda, is only 10 km across.

is a star without which life on Earth could not exist. It gives us energy and warmth. According to the classification of stars, the Sun is a yellow dwarf. Age about 5 billion years. It has a diameter at the equator of 1,392,000 km, 109 times larger than that of Earth. The rotation period at the equator is 25.4 days and 34 days at the poles. The mass of the Sun is 2x10 to the 27th power of tons, approximately 332950 times more mass Earth. The temperature inside the core is approximately 15 million degrees Celsius. The surface temperature is about 5500 degrees Celsius. By chemical composition The sun is made up of 75% hydrogen, and the other 25% elements are mostly helium. Now let’s figure out in order how many planets revolve around the sun, in the solar system and the characteristics of the planets.
The four inner planets (closest to the Sun) - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars - have hard surface. They are smaller than the four giant planets. Mercury moves faster than other planets, getting burned sun rays during the day and freezing at night. Period of revolution around the Sun: 87.97 days.
Diameter at the equator: 4878 km.
Rotation period (rotation around an axis): 58 days.
Surface temperature: 350 during the day and -170 at night.
Atmosphere: very rarefied, helium.
How many satellites: 0.
The main satellites of the planet: 0.

More similar to Earth in size and brightness. Observing it is difficult due to the clouds enveloping it. The surface is a hot rocky desert. Period of revolution around the Sun: 224.7 days.
Diameter at the equator: 12104 km.
Rotation period (rotation around an axis): 243 days.
Surface temperature: 480 degrees (average).
Atmosphere: dense, mostly carbon dioxide.
How many satellites: 0.
The main satellites of the planet: 0.


Apparently, the Earth was formed from a gas and dust cloud, like other planets. Particles of gas and dust collided and gradually “grew” the planet. The temperature on the surface reached 5000 degrees Celsius. Then the Earth cooled and became covered with solid rock bark. But the temperature in the depths is still quite high - 4500 degrees. Rocks melted in the depths and poured out to the surface during volcanic eruptions. Only on earth there is water. That's why life exists here. It is located relatively close to the Sun in order to receive the necessary heat and light, but far enough so as not to burn out. Period of revolution around the Sun: 365.3 days.
Diameter at the equator: 12756 km.
Period of rotation of the planet (rotation around its axis): 23 hours 56 minutes.
Surface temperature: 22 degrees (average).
Atmosphere: Mainly nitrogen and oxygen.
Number of satellites: 1.
The main satellites of the planet: the Moon.

Because of its resemblance to Earth, it was believed that life existed here. But the spacecraft that descended to the surface of Mars found no signs of life. This is the fourth planet in order. Period of revolution around the Sun: 687 days.
Diameter of the planet at the equator: 6794 km.
Rotation period (rotation around an axis): 24 hours 37 minutes.
Surface temperature: –23 degrees (average).
The planet's atmosphere: thin, mostly carbon dioxide.
How many satellites: 2.
The main satellites in order: Phobos, Deimos.


Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are made of hydrogen and other gases. Jupiter exceeds Earth by more than 10 times in diameter, 300 times in mass and 1300 times in volume. It is more than twice as massive as all the planets in the solar system combined. How long does it take for planet Jupiter to become a star? We need to increase its mass by 75 times! Period of revolution around the Sun: 11 years 314 days.
Diameter of the planet at the equator: 143884 km.
Rotation period (rotation around an axis): 9 hours 55 minutes.
Planet surface temperature: –150 degrees (average).
Number of satellites: 16 (+ rings).
The main satellites of the planets in order: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto.

It is number 2, the largest of the planets in the solar system. Saturn attracts attention thanks to its ring system formed of ice, rocks and dust that orbit the planet. There are three main rings with an outer diameter of 270,000 km, but their thickness is about 30 meters. Period of revolution around the Sun: 29 years 168 days.
Diameter of the planet at the equator: 120536 km.
Rotation period (rotation around an axis): 10 hours 14 minutes.
Surface temperature: –180 degrees (average).
Atmosphere: Mainly hydrogen and helium.
Number of satellites: 18 (+ rings).
Main satellites: Titan.


A unique planet in the solar system. Its peculiarity is that it rotates around the Sun not like everyone else, but “lying on its side.” Uranus also has rings, although they are harder to see. In 1986, Voyager 2 flew at a distance of 64,000 km, he had six hours to take photographs, which he successfully implemented. Orbital period: 84 years 4 days.
Diameter at the equator: 51118 km.
Period of rotation of the planet (rotation around its axis): 17 hours 14 minutes.
Surface temperature: -214 degrees (average).
Atmosphere: Mainly hydrogen and helium.
How many satellites: 15 (+ rings).
Main satellites: Titania, Oberon.

At the moment, Neptune is considered the last planet in the solar system. Its discovery took place through mathematical calculations, and then it was seen through a telescope. In 1989, Voyager 2 flew past. He took stunning photographs of the blue surface of Neptune and its largest moon, Triton. Period of revolution around the Sun: 164 years 292 days.
Diameter at the equator: 50538 km.
Rotation period (rotation around an axis): 16 hours 7 minutes.
Surface temperature: –220 degrees (average).
Atmosphere: Mainly hydrogen and helium.
Number of satellites: 8.
Main satellites: Triton.


On August 24, 2006, Pluto lost its planetary status. The International Astronomical Union has decided which celestial body should be considered a planet. Pluto does not meet the requirements of the new formulation and loses its “planetary status”, at the same time Pluto transforms into a new quality and becomes the prototype of a separate class dwarf planets.

How did the planets appear? Approximately 5–6 billion years ago, one of the gas and dust clouds of our large Galaxy ( milky way), having the shape of a disk, began to shrink towards the center, little by little forming the present Sun. Further, according to one theory, under the influence of powerful forces of attraction, a large number of dust and gas particles revolving around the Sun began to stick together into balls - forming future planets. As another theory says, the gas and dust cloud immediately broke up into separate clusters of particles, which compressed and became denser, forming the current planets. Now 8 planets revolve around the Sun constantly.



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