Solar System | Rediscovered Astronomy
Welcome to Rediscovered Astronomy planet page. We have something truly out-of-this-world to share with you. We’re going on a cosmic journey to explore the incredible wonders of our very own solar system.
Get ready to be amazed!
Our solar system is a fascinating place, filled with celestial bodies, breathtaking landscapes, and mind-boggling facts. Let’s start our adventure with the star at the center of it all—our beloved Sun.
Inner Solar System
The Sun is a magnificent ball of hot gas, constantly releasing energy through nuclear fusion. Its immense gravity holds our solar system together, and its light illuminates the planets, moons, and countless asteroids and comets.
Moving inward from the Sun, we encounter the four rocky inner planets of our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Earth, our home, is the only known planet to support life. But let’s not forget the captivating landscapes of our neighboring planets, like Venus with its thick atmosphere and scorching temperatures, and Mars, often referred to as the “Red Planet,” which scientists believe may have once harbored liquid water.
Beyond the terrestrial planets of our solar system, we encounter the asteroid belt—a region filled with numerous rocky bodies orbiting the Sun. These asteroids range in size from tiny rocks to dwarf planets like Ceres.
Outer Solar System
As we journey farther from the Sun, we enter the realm of the gas giants of our solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These colossal planets are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter, the largest of them all, boasts a mesmerizing system of swirling storms, including the famous Great Red Spot. Saturn, known for its magnificent rings, is a true celestial beauty. Uranus and Neptune, often called the “ice giants,” are unique in their own way, with icy atmospheres and intriguing moons.
The Kuiper Belt and Beyond
Further away from the “icy” gas giants, we find a second asteroid belt—another region filled with even more bodies orbiting the Sun, It’s called the Kuiper Belt, a vast region extending beyond Neptune, It is in this region of our solar system that we find former planet Pluto. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Alongside Pluto, we have other fascinating dwarf planets like Eris, Haumea, and Makemake,
But that’s not all, away from the Kuiper Belt, numerous dwarf planets or minor bodies like 2012 VP 113 “Biden” and Sedna have been found. These last two in particular among others have proven to be of primordial importance to point to another hypothetical planet, namely Planet X. It is still unknown whether theories hinting at its presence will be correct. Scientists are still looking for it.
Many of the planets and dwarf planets have moons of their own, each with its own unique characteristics and mysteries waiting to be unraveled.
From the scorching Sun to the icy depths of the outer regions, there is so much to explore and learn. We hope this virtual journey has sparked your curiosity and inspired you to delve deeper into the wonders of space.
Remember, our solar system is vast, and there are countless mysteries waiting to be discovered. Stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to marvel at the beauty and grandeur of our solar system.
Keep looking up!
Planet Animations
The Terrestrial Planets
Dwarf Planets and Minor Bodies
The Gas Giants
The Moons
Earth | Moon
Saturn | Enceladus
Otherwise noted, the animations posted on this page were created by J.J. Del Mar. For use and license please contact the author.
Acknowledgements
NASA
Thanks to JJ Del Mar for his contribution to this page.
Media made possible by WL Media USA
© Rediscovered Astronomy 2023