What is the Smallest Planet in the Solar System
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 Smallest Planet in the Solar System
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system with an equatorial radius of 2,439.7 km. Earth is approximately 3 times bigger than Mercury. Jupiter, the biggest planet in the solar system, is 3347 times larger than Mercury. This little planet is the closest to the sun and can have a surface temperature of up to 700 Kelvin. It has a surface very similar to our moon with many craters and large smooth surfaces. Mercury is too small and hot for it to have an atmosphere and only unmanned probes have been sent to investigate this planet.
The Smallest Dwarf Planet
The Smallest Dwarf Planet in the Solar System is Ceres. Ceres can be found in the asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This dwarf planet has a diameter of about 950 km (590 mi), but is definitely the biggest body in the asteroid belt. It is believed that this dwarf planet has a core of rock with a mantle of ice covering it.
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