Dwarf planets are celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, but unlike planets, they do not have enough gravitational force to clear their orbit of other objects. They are typically smaller than regular planets.
| Name | Number of Moons | Diameter | Orbit Period | Discovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pluto | 5 | 2,377 km | 248 years | 1930 |
| Eris | 1 | 2,326 km | 557 years | 2005 |
| Ceres | 0 | 940 km | 4.6 Earth years | 1801 |
| Haumea | 2 | 1,632 km | 283 years | 2008 |
| Makemake | 1 | 1,430 km | 305 years | 2005 |
Fun Fact: Pluto was once considered the ninth planet in our solar system but was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union.
Planets are large celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. They are massive enough to be spherical in shape due to their own gravity and have cleared their orbits of other debris.
| Name | Number of Moons | Diameter | Orbit Period | Discovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 0 | 4,880 km | 88 days | Known since antiquity |
| Venus | 0 | 12,104 km | 225 days | Known since antiquity |
| Earth | 1 | 12,742 km | 365.25 days | Known since antiquity |
| Mars | 2 | 6,779 km | 687 days | Known since antiquity |
| Jupiter | 79 | 139,820 km | 11.9 years | Known since antiquity |
| Saturn | 83 | 116,460 km | 29.5 years | Known since antiquity |
| Uranus | 27 | 50,724 km | 84 years | 1781 |
| Neptune | 14 | 49,244 km | 165 years | 1846 |
Fun Fact: Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is so massive that it could fit all the other planets inside it!
Aside from planets and dwarf planets, the universe is home to a variety of fascinating celestial bodies such as moons, comets, asteroids, and stars. Here's a brief look at each:
Moons, also called natural satellites, are objects that orbit planets and dwarf planets. For example, Earth's moon is our closest celestial neighbor.
Fun Fact: Jupiter’s moon Europa is believed to have a subsurface ocean beneath its icy crust, which could potentially support life!
Comets are icy bodies that originate from the outer solar system. As they approach the Sun, they heat up and release gas and dust, forming a bright tail. The most famous comet is Halley's Comet, which is visible from Earth roughly every 76 years.
Asteroids are small rocky bodies, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They are remnants from the early solar system and can vary in size from small pebbles to objects hundreds of kilometers in diameter.
Stars are massive, luminous balls of gas that generate energy through nuclear fusion. The Sun, our closest star, is the source of life on Earth. There are billions of stars in our galaxy alone!
Fun Fact: A star's color indicates its temperature, with blue stars being the hottest and red stars being the coolest.