Planets and Solar System Essay -- Science Astronomy Astronomical Essay

Planets and Solar SystemA orbiter is a celestial body that revolves around a central flair and does not shine by its own light (Grolier, 1992). The only planetary system that is known to man is our solar system. It is made up of nine planets which take off in size and make-up. The nine major planets in our solar system atomic number 18 quicksilver, Venus, solid ground, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. There ar also many different minor planets which are also in our solar system, but they are unimportant compared to the nine major planets. In this paper I will discuss the planets and how they are to each one unique. Mercury which is the planet that is closest to the sun is the first planet I will discuss. Mercury is the smallest of the inner planets. It is speculated that the heat from the sun made it impossible for the gases certify to become part of the planetary formation. The surface of Mercury is extremely piquant. It is approximately 470 degrees cels ius on the surface and is thought to be even hotter at the two hot spots. These hot spots are on opposite ends of the equator. It is the heat of the surface that makes it impossible for Mercury to have any type of atmosphere. Mercury orbits the sun formerly every 88 days and has a true rotation period of 58.6 days. It is the closest planet to the sun and therefore orbits faster than any other planet (Thompson/Turk, 542, 1993). It is said that Mercury rotates three times for every two trips around the sun, so that during every alternate perihelon passage the same face points directly at the sun. Geologically, the most remarkable features of Mercury are compressional cliffs or faults, just the sort of wrinkles that might form in the crust if the interior of the planet shrank slightly (Morrison, 74, 1993). It is speculated that it was the readiness of Mercurys metallic core that caused this global shrinkage. Mercury is also . . . enriched in metal or depleted of rock (Morris on, 74, 1993). It is also believed that some of the inner core of Mercury is unchanging in a fluid state. Scientists also believe that Mercurys surface is made partially of silicate rock. The best way to describe Mercury is, . . . small, heavily cratered and close (Morrison, 71, 1993). Venus is the second closest planet to the sun and is said to . . . most closely resemble Earth in size, density, and... ...n see the planets of most importance are the ones closest to the sun and Earth. Little is known about the far off planets therefore it is hard to give them full recognition. Much is known about Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The other three planets are not as well known as these six are. Whether more planetary systems exist doesnt really matter. There are still plenty of things we dont understand about our own solar system. Scientists will have their work cut out for them in the future. Each and every planet has clean-cut differences and that helps show us how truly owing(p) God is. The planets will never fully be understood and will always be a great topic of discussion. Works Sited Cattermole, P. (1995). Earth and Other Planets. New York Oxford University Press. Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc. (1992). Hunt, G. & Moore, P. (1983). Atlas of the Solar System. Chicago Rand Mc Nally & Company. Morrison, D. (1993). Exploring Planetary Worlds. New York Scientific American Library. Thompson, G. & Turk, J. (1993). Earth Science and the Environment. New York Saunders College Publishing & Harcourt Brace College Publishers.