The eight planets refer to the eight major planets of the solar system, according to the distance from the sun from near to far, they are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Most of the eight planets also have the same rotation direction as the rotation direction. There are only two exceptions: Venus and Uranus. Venus rotates in the opposite direction to its orbit, while Uranus rotates "lying" at an angle of 97° to its orbit.
The concept of nine planets continued until 2006, and later astronomers found that Pluto's mass, orbital characteristics, and non-compliance with the new definition of planets caused it to be kicked out of the list of nine planets. Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet, with the exception of the eight planets.
The characteristics of each of the eight planets are as follows:
1. Mercury
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system, with extremely high surface temperatures, reaching a daily surface temperature of up to 430°C. Due to the absence of an atmosphere, Mercury has a large temperature difference between day and night, with extremely high temperatures during the day and very cold nights.
2, Venus
The surface temperature of Venus is extremely high, the main component of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide, and the surface is obscured by thick clouds, and the surface temperature is as high as 470 degrees Celsius. Venus rotates in the opposite direction to its revolution and is one of the slowest rotating planets in the solar system.
3, Earth
The earth is the home of human beings, and it is also the only planet where human beings know that life exists, with a large amount of water resources, the surface is covered with 70% water, and the atmosphere contains oxygen and other gases, making the earth's environment suitable for life.
4, Mars
There are a large number of impact craters on the surface of Mars, which may contain microorganisms, similar to Earth, with the South Pole, the North Pole, high mountains, canyons, white clouds, dust storms, and tornadoes.
5, Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with strong magnetic fields and storms, and many moons, Jupiter is 11 times the diameter of the Earth and three times the mass of the other planets combined.
6, Saturn
Saturn has a distinct ring system and is one of the most beautiful planets in the solar system, and Saturn's ring system is made up of ice and rock, making it one of the most spectacular astronomical spectacles in the solar system.
7, Uranus
Uranus is one of the coldest planets in the solar system, with a surface temperature of -210 degrees Celsius, and Uranus' axis of rotation is heavily tilted, leading to extreme seasonal variations.
8. Neptune
Neptune is the most distant planet in the solar system, with a surface temperature of -220 degrees Celsius and an atmosphere containing hydrogen, helium, and methane, giving Neptune its deep blue appearance.
The influence of the eight planets on the solar system is indispensable, and their existence together maintains the stability of the solar system and the conditions of life on Earth.
Although Mercury may seem small to the solar system as a whole, its impact on Earth cannot be ignored. Some scholars believe that if Mercury disappears, the Earth's orbital period may be shortened to about 300 days, and at the same time, the Earth's temperature may gradually rise, and the greenhouse effect may intensify, which may lead to major disasters on Earth.
Venus and Mars, although devoid of life, have prevented more impact events from falling to Earth. Without Venus and Mars, Earth's ecology could be affected much more than the disappearance of Mercury.
Jupiter, as the largest gas planet in the solar system in terms of volume and mass, has a strong gravitational and protective effect. It was able to attract and divert planets that could hit the Earth, protecting the Earth for 4.6 billion years.
Other planets such as Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, etc., although less protective of the Earth than Jupiter, are also protecting the Earth from external threats.
Together, the eight planets form the stable structure of the solar system, which not only maintains the balance of the solar system, but also provides the necessary protection for the earth and ensures the existence and continuation of life. Without any one planet, the solar system would face dramatic changes, and the impact on life on Earth would be catastrophic.