The Solar System consists of all the planets, moons and other objects that orbit our sun. There are 8 planets in the solar system and 5 dwarf planets. The order of the eight planets is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These planets all orbit the sun in a circular orbit. Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are all composed of metal and rock. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are all gas giants. Jupiter and Saturn are made of hydrogen and Helium, whilst Uranus and Neptune are composed of water, ammonia and methane. The Dwarf Planets do not have consistent circular orbits and are also composed of water based substances such as ices, ammonia and methane. So which of the planets in the Solar System are the smallest? Read on to discover more.
The moon is a large natural satellite that orbits the planet earth. It has no atmosphere and a rocky and dry surface. The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system and can be seen from every country on earth. It is a quarter of the diameter of the Earth and has a synchronous rotation with the earth. The gravitational effects of the moon determine the ocean tides. It is the brightest object in the sky after the sun, but actually has a surface which is very dark. You might be wondering, If the surface of the moon is dark why does it shine? Read on to find out.
If you have ever looked at the sun in pictures or through a special telescope you would have noticed the darker patches on the suns surface. These are called sunspots and they are temporary dark spots on the photosphere of the sun. Sunspots are a region on the sun surface that is a different temperature than that of the surrounding area. It is darker in color because it is cooler than the rest of the sun.
Many people have written to me wanting to know whether or not Pluto is classified as a planet. This post will answer that question and explain the reasons behind the classification.