Okay, so this section is somewhat pointless...to me, at least, for I am no scientist. I just put together some quick facts about the actual planets, and I'm not quite sure why, but if you find them useful, then yay-ness! I'll test you on this later, so study it carefully, hehe.
Mercury is approximately 58 million kilometers from the sun, with a diameter of 4,880 kilometers. One revolution around the sun takes 88 days, and the planet makes a full rotation on its axis every 58 days and 16 hours (in Earth-time). Mercury has no moons. Some general characteristics are: a rocky, cratered surface; steep cliffs; extremely thin atmosphere.
Venus is approximately 108 million kilometers from the sun. Its diameter is 12,104 kilometers, and has no moons. A year on Venus is 225 Earth-days, and the day is 243 Earth-days long; its rotation is retrograde. Some general characteristics of the planet are: thick cloud cover; greenhouse effect; vast plains; high mountains.
Earth is approximately 150 million kilometers from the sun, and is 12,756 kilometers in diameter. It has one moon, which we refer to as "The Moon". An Earth year lasts 365 days, and a day lasts 24 hours. Some general characteristics of the planet are: liquid water; life.
Mars is about 228 million kilometers from the sun. It is 6,794 kilometers in diameter, and possesses two moons. The Martian year lasts about 1.88 years, and the day lasts about 24.5 hours. Some general characteristics of the planet are: polar icecaps; pink sky; rust-colored surface; dominant volcanoes; surface channels.
Jupiter is approximately 778 million kilometers from the sun. Its diameter is 142,700 kilometers, which makes it the largest planet in the solar system. A year on Jupiter is the equivalent of 11.86 years on Earth, and a day on Jupiter is the equivalent of 10 hours on Earth. 16 moons revolve around the first gas planet. Some general characteristics of the planet are: great red spot; thin ring; huge magnetosphere; rocky core surrounded by liquid-hydrogen ocean.
Saturn is approximately 1,427 million kilometers from the sun, and is 120,000 kilometers in diameter. A year on Saturn lasts 29.46 years on Earth, and the day lasts 10.5 hours. The number of moons keeps seeming to increase, but most resources say that there are 23. Some general characteristics of the planet are: many rings and ringlets; Titan is its only moon with a substantial atmosphere.
Uranus is approximately 2,869 million kilometers from the sun. Its diameter is 50,800 kilometers. Its year is 84.01 Earth-years, and its day is about 16.6 hours, making a retrograde rotation. Uranus has 15 moons. Some general characteristics of the planet are: rotates on side; 11 dark mostly narrow rings of methane ice; worldwide ocean of superheated water.
Neptune is approximately 4,486 million kilometers from the sun, with a diameter of 48,600 kilometers. It completes a full revolution around the sun every 164.8 Earth-years, and makes a full rotation on its axis every 16 hours. There are 8 moons revolving around Neptune. Some general characteristics of the planet are: unusual satellite rotation; 4 rings; great dark spot; rocky core surrounded by slush of water and frozen methane.
Pluto is approximately 5,890 million kilometers from the sun, with a diameter of 2,300 kilometers. It completes a full revolution around the sun every 247.7 Earth-years, and makes a full rotation on its axis every 6 days and 9.5 hours. There is 1 moon revolving around Pluto. Some general characteristics of the planet are: smallest planet; possibly a double planet system.
