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PLANET INFO
Mercury
2 Astronomy a small planet that is the closest to the sun in the solar system, sometimes
visible to the naked eye just after sunset.
Mercury orbits within the orbit of Venus at an average distance of 36 million miles (57.9
million km) from the sun. With a diameter of 3,031 miles (4,878 km), it is only a third
larger than earth's moon, which it resembles in having a heavily cratered surface. Its ‘day’
(equivalent to 58.65 Earth days) is precisely two thirds the length of its ‘year’ (87.97
Earth days). Daytime temperatures average 338°F (170°C). There is no atmosphere and
the planet has no satellites.
3 a series of space missions, launched by the U.S. from 1958 to 1963, that achieved the
first U.S. manned spaceflights.
Venus
2 Astronomy the second planet from the sun in the solar system, the brightest celestial
object after the sun and moon and frequently appearing in the twilight sky as the evening
or morning star.
Venus orbits between Mercury and the earth at an average distance of 67.2 million miles
(108 million km) from the sun. It is almost equal in size to the earth, with a diameter of
7,521 miles (12,104 km) and shows phases similar to the moon. The planet is completely
covered by clouds consisting chiefly of sulfuric acid droplets, and no surface detail can
be seen by telescope. There is a dense atmosphere of carbon dioxide, which traps the heat
of the sun by the greenhouse effect to produce a surface temperature of 460°C. The planet
has no natural satellite.
Earth
• the surface of the world as distinct from the sky or the sea : it plummeted back to earth
at 60 mph.
• the present abode of humankind, as distinct from heaven or hell : God's will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
The earth is the third planet from the sun in the solar system, orbiting between Venus and
Mars at an average distance of 90 million miles (149.6 million km) from the sun, and has
one natural satellite, the moon. It has an equatorial diameter of 7,654 miles (12,756 km),
an average density 5.5 times that of water, and is believed to have formed about 4,600
million years ago. The earth, which is three-quarters covered by oceans and has a dense
atmosphere of nitrogen and oxygen, is the only planet known to support life.
moon
the natural satellite of the earth, visible (chiefly at night) by reflected light from the sun.
• a natural satellite of any planet.
• ( the moon) figurative anything that one could
desire : you must know he'd give any of us the
moon.
• a month, esp. a lunar month : many moons had
passed since he brought a prospective investor
home.
The earth's moon orbits the earth in a period of 29.5 days, going through a series of
phases from new moon to full moon and back again during that time. Its average distance
from the earth is some 239,000 miles (384,000 km) and it is 2,160 miles (3,476 km) in
diameter. The bright and dark features that outline the face of “the man in the moon” are
highland and lowland regions, the high regions being heavily pockmarked by craters due
to the impact of meteorites. The moon has no atmosphere, and the same side is always
presented to the earth.
Mars
2 Astronomy a small, reddish planet that is the fourth in order from the sun and is
periodically visible to the naked eye.
Mars orbits between earth and Jupiter at an average distance of 141.6 million miles (228
million km) from the sun, and has an equatorial diameter of 4,208 miles (6,787 km). Its
characteristic red color arises from the iron-rich minerals covering its surface. There is a
tenuous atmosphere of carbon dioxide, and the seasonal polar caps are mainly of frozen
carbon dioxide. Unambiguous evidence of life has yet to be found. There are two small
satellites, Phobos and Deimos.
Jupiter
2 Astronomy the largest planet in the solar system, a gas giant that is the fifth in order
from the sun and one of the brightest objects in the night sky.
Jupiter orbits between Mars and Saturn at an average distance of 778 million km from the
sun. Although it has an equatorial diameter of 142,800 km, the planet rotates in less than
ten hours. Its upper atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen with swirling clouds of
ammonia and methane, with a circulation system that results in a number of distinct
latitudinal bands. There are at least sixteen satellites, four of which (the Galilean moons)
are visible through binoculars, and a faint ring system.
Saturn
2 Astronomy the sixth planet from the sun in the solar system, circled by a system of
broad, flat rings.
Saturn orbits between Jupiter and Uranus at an average distance of 887 million miles
(1,427 million km) from the sun. It is a gas giant with an equatorial diameter of 74,600
miles (120,000 km), with a conspicuous ring system extending out to a distance twice as
great.The planet has a dense, hydrogen-rich atmosphere similar to that of Jupiter but with
less distinct banding. There are at least eighteen satellites, the largest of which is Titan,
and including small shepherd satellites that orbit close to two of the rings.
3 a series of American space rockets, of which the very large Saturn V was used as the
launch vehicle for the Apollo missions of 1969–72.
Uranus
2 Astronomy a distant planet of the solar system, seventh in order from the sun,
discovered by William Herschel in 1781.
Uranus orbits between Jupiter and Neptune at an average distance of 2,870 million km
from the sun. It has an equatorial diameter of 50,800 km, and is one of the gas giants. The
planet is bluish-green in color, having an upper atmosphere consisting almost entirely of
hydrogen and helium. There are at least seventeen satellites, the largest of which are
Oberon and Titania, and a faint ring system.
Neptune
2 Astronomy a distant planet of the solar system, eighth in order from the sun, discovered
in 1846.
Neptune orbits between Uranus and Pluto at an average distance of 2,794 million miles
(4,497 million km) from the sun (but temporarily outside the orbit of Pluto 1979–99). It is
the fourth largest planet, with an equatorial diameter of 30,200 miles (48,600 km), and
the most remote of the gas giants.The planet is predominantly blue, with an upper
atmosphere mainly of hydrogen and helium with some methane. It has at least eight
satellites, the largest of which is Triton, and a faint ring system.
Pluto |ˈploōtō| |ˌpludoʊ| |ˌpluːtəʊ|
1 Greek Mythology the god of the underworld. Also called Hades .
2 Astronomy the most remote known planet of the solar system, usually ninth in order
from the sun, discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh.
Pluto usually orbits beyond Neptune at an average distance of 5,900 million km from the
sun, although its orbit is so eccentric that at perihelion it is closer to the sun than Neptune
(as in 1979–99). Pluto is smaller than earth's moon (diameter about 2,250 km), but it was
discovered in 1978 to have its own satellite (Charon), which is so large that the pair
should properly be regarded as a double planet.