Solar System: Size, Planets & Comets

In summary, the conversation discusses the size of our solar system and the positioning of the planets and comets within it. The individual asking the questions is directed to use a specific website as a resource to find answers to their inquiries.
  • #1
nomorevishnu
34
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What is the size of our solar system?And are the planets in the same plane?,like whether a drawn plane passes through the centre of the planets?Same with the comets?These questions might sound ametuerish,but someone please answer me.
 
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  • #2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_system" [Broken] can be a valuable resource, learn to use it.
 
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  • #3
nomorevishnu said:
What is the size of our solar system?And are the planets in the same plane?,like whether a drawn plane passes through the centre of the planets?Same with the comets?These questions might sound ametuerish,but someone please answer me.


Try http://www.fourmilab.to/solar/" [Broken] .:smile:
 
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1. What is the size of the solar system?

The solar system is incredibly vast, spanning approximately 4.6 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles) from the sun to the outermost edge of the Kuiper Belt. The diameter of the solar system can vary depending on where you measure from, but on average it is about 287 billion kilometers (178 billion miles) across.

2. How many planets are in the solar system?

As of 2020, there are 8 recognized planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. However, there is ongoing debate about the status of Pluto as a planet, with some considering it a dwarf planet instead.

3. What are comets?

Comets are small, icy objects that orbit the sun in highly elliptical paths. They are made up of dust, ice, and rock and can range in size from a few meters to tens of kilometers in diameter. When a comet gets close enough to the sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporize and create a glowing tail.

4. How are planets formed in the solar system?

Planets are formed through a process called accretion, which occurs when small particles in a disk of gas and dust collide and stick together, gradually forming larger and larger objects. Eventually, these objects become large enough to have their own gravitational pull and can continue to grow by attracting and absorbing more material.

5. What is the biggest planet in the solar system?

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with a diameter of 142,984 kilometers (88,846 miles). It is more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined and has a strong magnetic field that creates its distinctive striped appearance.

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