ABOUT PLANET

The Solar System consists of the Sun, eight official planets and various non-stellar objects such as dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, debris, and ice clusters. It was created 4.6 billion years ago, when a large cloud of gas and dust, called a molecular cloud, collapsed due to gravitational force.

The Sun is the center of the Solar System and the most massive object in it. It is composed of almost entirely hydrogen and helium gas and it is the source of all energy for the planets and other celestial bodies in the system. The energy is created by nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms are combined to form helium atoms, releasing light and heat.

The eight official planets of the Solar System are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in the Solar System. It is composed of a metallic core and a rocky mantle, and its best known feature is its large area of craters that are caused by meteor impacts. It is a very hot planet and its surface temperatures range from -173°C at night to 430°C during the day.

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and it has the same diameter as Earth, making it the closest in size to our planet. It is often known as the 'morning star' because it is visible in the morning sky and is the 3rd brightest object in the night sky. Its atmosphere is made up of 96% carbon dioxide which contributes to a very high surface temperature of 470°C, making it the hottest planet in the Solar System.

Earth is the third planet from the Sun and it is the only planet known to harbour life. It has the same diameter as Venus and is covered by 71% ocean and 29% land. Its atmosphere is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. It is the only known planet with liquid water, which is essential for life.

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and it is known as the red planet due to its orange-red surface. Its atmosphere is composed mostly of carbon dioxide which contributes to its cooler temperatures, ranging from -125°C at night to 20°C during the day. It has the largest dust storms in the Solar System and some of the most spectacular seasonal features.

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and it is the largest in the Solar System. Its atmosphere is made up of hydrogen and helium and it has the iconic 'Great Red Spot' which is a large storm that has been raging for more than 350 years. Its gravity affects the orbits of all the other planets in the Solar System and it also has dozens of moons that orbit it.

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and it is best known for its beautiful rings which are made up of ice and rock particles. Its atmosphere is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium and it also has more than 60 moons orbiting it. It is the least dense of all the planets and is the most distant that can be seen with the unaided eye.

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and it is best known for its unique axial tilt which gives it seasons that last more than 20 years. Its atmosphere is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium and it has 27 known moons orbiting it, all of which are composed of ice and rock. It is the coldest planet in the Solar System with average surface temperatures of -224°C.

Neptune is the eighth and furthest planet from the Sun and is the first to be discovered by mathematical calculations rather than by observation. Its atmosphere is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium with some methane and its surface is covered in a mixture of water, ammonia, and methane ice particles. It also has 13 known moons orbiting it, all of which are composed of ice and rock.

The Solar System is an incredibly complex system that is composed mainly of gas and dust clouds and stars, planets, and minor objects, all which are affected by the Sun's gravity. It was created 4.6 billion years ago and has evolved significantly since then. The eight official planets in this system are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each of these planets has its own unique features, atmosphere, and composition, allowing them to be explored in more detail and for us to better understand our Solar System.