Activity › Discussion › Environment › Planets › Reply To: Planets
-
::
There are four main classifications of planets- terrestrial planets, gas giants, ice giants, and dwarf planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars come under terrestrial planets. They are primarily comprised of a rocky type surface. Jupiter and Saturn cover the gas giants. These are primarily comprised of a mixture of gases. Uranus and Neptune fall under the category of ice giants. They are generally the planets with a solid ice surface. Pluto, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake come under the category of dwarf planets. These are usually smaller in mass as compared to the other planets.
Terrestrial planets
Let us talk in brief about each of these planets.
Mercury
It is the closest to the sun as well as the second-smallest planet in the solar system. Because of its proximity to the sun, the surface of the planet reaches a temperature as high as 840 degrees Fahrenheit. There is no atmosphere on this planet because of the intense temperature, so it is covered with pockmarks and craters all around.
Venus
This planet consists mainly of carbon dioxide. It contains a pressure index that would crush anyone who landed on this planet. It is the hottest planet and can be seen by the naked eye from Earth.
Earth
The only planet where life exists. It is believed that Earth is approximately four thousand million years
Mars
Mars is also called the Red planet because of the high iron content on its soil. This planet is full of carbon dioxide. But it is assumed that there was a time when life existed on Mars and may exist even in the future.
Jupiter
It is the largest planet in our solar system. Its atmosphere is similar to that of the sun containing elements of hydrogen and helium.
Saturn
Like Jupiter, its atmosphere is also filled with Helium and Hydrogen. Saturn is surrounded by a set of 9 whole rings and 3 broken rings that are composed largely of ice, rock, and space dust.
Uranus
This planet is blue which can be justified by the high amount of methane gas in its atmosphere. The main elements on this planet are Helium and Hydrogen.
Neptune
It is known as the windiest planet in our solar system as it is far away from the sun. Neptune also has high traces of Methane in its atmosphere. It is believed that there is an unknown element that gives it a much brighter color than Uranus as well.