Class Notes – The Solar System: Structure, Planets, and
Exploration
1. Introduction to the Solar System
The Solar System is our cosmic neighborhood, comprising the Sun and all
celestial bodies bound to it by gravity, including planets, moons, asteroids,
comets, and dwarf planets. It was formed around 4.6 billion years ago
from a giant cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula.
Understanding the Solar System helps us grasp the origin of Earth, the
conditions for life, and the dynamic nature of space.
2. Structure of the Solar System
• The Sun – The central star; it contains over 99.8% of the total mass of
the Solar System.
• Inner Solar System – Contains the terrestrial (rocky) planets: Mercury,
Venus, Earth, Mars.
• Asteroid Belt – A region between Mars and Jupiter filled with rocky debris.
• Outer Solar System – Contains gas and ice giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune.
• Kuiper Belt – A region beyond Neptune filled with icy bodies and dwarf
planets.
• Oort Cloud (hypothetical) – A distant shell of icy objects believed to be the
source of long-period comets.
3. The Sun: Our Star
• A G-type main-sequence star (G2V).
• Composed mostly of hydrogen (74%) and helium (24%).
• Energy is produced through nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen into
helium.
• Provides the light and heat that sustains life on Earth.
4. The Planets of the Solar System
Each planet is unique in composition, atmosphere, and characteristics.
A. Inner (Terrestrial) Planets
1 Mercury
◦ Closest to the Sun.
◦ No atmosphere; extreme temperature differences.
◦ Surface similar to the Moon.
2 Venus
◦ Earth's “sister planet” in size.
◦ Thick CO₂ atmosphere with a runaway greenhouse effect.
◦ Hottest planet (~460°C).
3 Earth
◦ Only known planet to support life.
◦ Atmosphere: nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor.
◦ Active geology and liquid water.
4 Mars
◦ Known as the “Red Planet” due to iron oxide.
◦ Thin CO₂ atmosphere.
◦ Evidence of ancient rivers, lakes, and possibly microbial life.
B. Outer (Gas and Ice Giants)
5 Jupiter
◦ Largest planet; over 300x the mass of Earth.
◦ Made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
◦ Famous for the Great Red Spot (a massive storm).
◦ Has over 90 moons, including Ganymede (largest in the Solar System).
6 Saturn
◦ Known for its spectacular ring system.
◦ Composed mostly of gas.
◦ Titan, its largest moon, has a thick atmosphere and methane lakes.
7 Uranus
◦ Ice giant with a pale blue color from methane.
◦ Rotates on its side (~98° tilt).
◦ Coldest planet in the Solar System.
8 Neptune
◦ Deep blue color; extremely windy.
◦ Strongest winds in the Solar System.
◦ Triton, one of its moons, orbits backward and may be a captured object.
5. Dwarf Planets and Small Bodies
• Pluto – Formerly the ninth planet; reclassified in 2006.
• Other Dwarf Planets: Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres (in the asteroid
belt).
• Dwarf planets share many characteristics with regular planets but haven’t
"cleared their orbit."
Asteroids: Rocky objects mostly found in the asteroid belt.
Comets: Icy bodies that develop glowing tails when they approach the Sun.
Meteoroids: Small rock fragments in space. If they enter Earth’s
atmosphere and burn up, they become meteors (shooting stars); if they hit
the ground, they’re called meteorites.
6. Moons and Natural Satellites
• Over 200 moons orbit planets in our Solar System.
• Earth has one moon; Mars has two (Phobos and Deimos).
• Jupiter’s four largest moons (Galilean moons): Io, Europa, Ganymede, and
Callisto.
• Titan (Saturn) and Europa (Jupiter) are top candidates in the search for
extraterrestrial life due to their subsurface oceans.
7. Exploration of the Solar System
Human curiosity has driven extensive exploration:
• Voyager 1 & 2 – Now in interstellar space; provided the first images of the
outer planets.
• Pioneer, Galileo, Cassini – Major missions to study Jupiter and Saturn.
• Mars Rovers: Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, Perseverance – exploring the
Martian surface.
• James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) – Studying the early universe,
exoplanets, and Solar System objects in infrared.
8. The Solar System and Life Beyond Earth
• The habitable zone (or "Goldilocks zone") is the region around a star where
liquid water can exist.
• Planets or moons with subsurface oceans (e.g., Europa, Enceladus) are prime
candidates for life.
• Thousands of exoplanets have been discovered in other solar systems,
expanding the search for life.
9. Fun Facts and Figures
• Jupiter is so massive that it has its own "mini" solar system of moons.
• One day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.
• The largest volcano in the Solar System is Olympus Mons on Mars.
• Neptune was discovered through mathematical predictions rather than direct
observation.
10. Conclusion
The Solar System is a fascinating and diverse place. From rocky planets to
icy moons and gas giants, it offers insight into the formation of stars,
planets, and possibly life itself. As our exploration tools become more
advanced, our understanding of our place in the universe continues to
evolve.
