An Intro to Our Solar System

Hey guys,

So i think that to fully understand geology on Earth, we all have to know a fair amount about where Earth is.

Im pretty sure most people know about the 9 planets in our solar system, but they arent the only only things out there. So here is just a little information about what is really out there.

4.6 billion years ago, a giant cloud of dust and gas contracted under a force of gravity and began spinning. After some time, this spinning motion along with colliding movements, created our solar system. All orbiting around the Sun are the 9 planets, moons, asteriod belts, and numerous comets.

The Sun

We all know what the sun is dont we? Well here is just little background. The sun is the biggest thing in our solar system and makes up most of it mass. It is composed of mainly Hydrogen and Helium with smaller traces of other elements. The reason why it looks like its on fire is because exteremely hot gases radiate energy into the solar system as heat and light.

Average Temprature: 5,778 K

Mercury

The second smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the sun. It has a very thin atmosphere, meaning temprature in the day is around 430 degerees celcius, but can get to -180 celcius at night time. The surface is terrestrial (made of solid) alot like the moons. It is very unlikely any life exsist there.

Distance from Sun: 57,910,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 88 days

Average Temprature: 100-700 K

Venus

Venus is an unihabited planet (as far as we know...) consisting of a volcanic landscape. It has an atmosphere, but the air is unbreatheable for humans, as it is made of mainly carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and some sulphuric acid.

Distance from Sun: 108,000,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 224 days

Average Temprature: 735 K

Earth

The only known planet with intellegent life forms and a very diverse surface. With breathable air and giant bodies of waters and a good temprature to sustain life, Earth is the most habitable planet in our solar system. It has one natural satellite (the moon).

Distance from Sun: 149,600000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 365 days

Average Temprature: 185-331 K

Mars

Also a solid planet, Mars has two moons called Phobos and Deimos. It has a thin atmosphere mainly composed of C02, and a lot like Earth, has tectonic plates. One of the most known volcanoes it Olympus Mon, which is a large shield volcano, nearly 3 times as tall as mount Everest! Its surface has a lot of iron, which oxidises, making the planet look red.

Wanna see what the surface looks like? check out the Mars rover: Curiosity

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html#.VHrW7SuSwkg

Distance from Sun: 228,000,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 687 days

Average Temprature:186-268 K

Asteroid Belt

In between Mars and Jupiter, there is a large asteroid belt with bodies up to hundred of kilometers long. The largest thing in the belt, is Ceres, a large body made of ice and rock with a diameter of almost 1000 km.

Jupiter

Jupiter, along with Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are known as the gas giant, for they are made of gases. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is mainly made of Hydrogen and Helium. Many photos show a giant red spot on Jupiter. This is the Great Red Spot, which is a storm that is bigger than the entire Earth. Jupiter cannot support life, but there is a possiblity that one of it 67 moons could.

Distance from Sun: 778,000,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 4,332 days

Average Temprature: 125 K

Saturn

Best known for its planetary rings, Saturn is also made of Hydrogen and helium. Its rings are made of dust and ice particles circling the planet. The other gas giant have rings similar to those of Saturns. Though it looks it, Saturn is not very dense. One of its moons is called Mimas, after the Greek goddess Gaea's son. And i and just going to say it, It looks like the Death Star. :)

Distance from Sun: 1,429,000,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 10,760 days

Average Temprature: 95 K

Uranus

The wierd thing about Uranus, is that it spins sideways instead. Though it is a Gas giant, some may call it one of the Ice giants. It is believed it has a rocky core, and icy materials circulating the surface. It has 27 moons, many named after famous characters in Shakespeares plays, such as Titania and Oberon from a Midsummers Night Dream.

Distance from Sun: 2,871,000,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 30,700 days

Average Temprature: 57 K

Neptune

The planet shares a name with the Roman counterpart of Posiden. And it just gets even better because its satallites are named after Greek sea gods. The voager 2 is the only spacecraft to make it to Neptune. Its biggest moon, Triton, is known to have geyser that spew liquid nitrogen and spins the opposite way of Neptune.

Distance from Sun: 4,504,000,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 60,200 days

Average Temprature: 59 K

Pluto

I dont care what anyone says, Pluto is a planet. It is said to be a Dwarf planet. It orbits the sun in a egg shape and part of the time is in the Kuiper Belt. It has a moon called Charon.

Distance from Sun: 5,913,000,000 km

Time to Orbit Once: 90,600 days

Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud

The fursthest thing away from the sun in our solar system. It consists of ice, space debris, and dust. It was named after Jan Oort and Gerard Kuiper. It is home to many of the Dwarf planets, such as Eris.