The Solar System
“The Solar System is a collection of celestial bodies including the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, all bound together by gravity.”
The Sun – The Center of the Solar System
The Sun is a massive ball of hot gases that provides energy to all the celestial bodies orbiting it. It contains 99.86% of the Solar System’s mass.
Planets of the Solar System
- Mercury: Smallest and closest to the Sun.
- Venus: Hottest planet, known as Earth’s twin.
- Earth: The only planet known to support life.
- Mars: The Red Planet, known for its iron oxide surface.
- Jupiter: Largest planet with a Great Red Spot.
- Saturn: Known for its prominent ring system.
- Uranus: Rotates on its side, pale blue color.
- Neptune: Farthest planet, known for strong winds.
Other Celestial Bodies
- Moons: Natural satellites orbiting planets.
- Asteroids: Small rocky bodies mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
- Comets: Icy bodies that release gas or dust; they have a tail when near the Sun.
- Meteoroids: Smaller rocks or particles in space; they become meteors when entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Key Facts and Concepts
- Heliocentric Theory: The Sun is at the center of the Solar System.
- Geocentric Theory: An old belief that Earth is the center.
- Planetary Order: “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles” (Mnemonic for planet order).
- Dwarf Planets: Pluto, Eris, and Ceres are examples.
Previous Year Questions
- SSC CGL 2020: Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
- Mars
- RRB NTPC 2019: Which planet has the maximum number of moons?
- Jupiter
- HSSC CET 2022: Venus is also known as?
- Earth’s Twin
- SSC CHSL 2018: Which is the hottest planet?
- Venus
- SSC CPO 2019: What is the position of Earth from the Sun?
- Third
- RRB Group D 2018: Name the smallest planet in the Solar System?
- Mercury
- SSC GD 2021: Which planet is called the “Windy Planet”?
- Neptune
- HSSC 2019: What are asteroids?
- Small rocky objects between Mars and Jupiter
- SSC JE 2020: Which planet has rings?
- Saturn
- SSC MTS 2021: Pluto is classified as?
- Dwarf Planet
- SSC 2022: What is the main source of energy for Earth?
- Sun
- RRB JE 2018: Which planet rotates from east to west?
- Venus
- HSSC 2023: What is the time taken by Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun?
- 365 days
- SSC CGL 2021: Which planet is called “Ice Giant”?
- Uranus
- RRB ALP 2017: Which planet takes the longest time to orbit the Sun?
- Neptune
- SSC JE 2020: Which gas is most abundant in the Sun?
- Hydrogen
- HSSC 2020: How many planets are in the Solar System?
- 8
- RRB NTPC 2016: Which is the brightest planet in the night sky?
- Venus
- SSC 2019: Which planet has the shortest day?
- Jupiter
- HSSC CET 2021: Which planet is tilted the most on its axis?
- Uranus
Note: The Solar System is dynamic and continuously studied using advanced space telescopes and missions like NASA’s Voyager and ESA’s Gaia.
Conclusion
The Solar System helps us understand Earth's place in the universe. From planets to comets, each celestial body plays a vital role in shaping the cosmos we live in.