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THE PLANETS Introduction In addition to the eight planets, our solar system also consists of the Sun, numerous other satellites of the planets, and many other comets and asteroids. The eight planets are: • • • • • • • • Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Classification Controversy surrounds the classification of these planetary objects. Typically the solar system is divided into planets (heavenly bodies orbiting the Sun), their satellites (moons orbiting the planets), asteroids (also orbits the Sun) and comets (eccentric orbits). According to the Nine Planets web site, the solar system has been found to be more complicated than the above description would suggest: 1. 2. 3. 4. There are several small moons that are probably captured asteroids. Comets sometimes fizzle out and become indistinguishable from asteroids. The Kuiper Belt objects and others like Chiron don't fit this scheme well. The Earth/Moon and Pluto/Charon systems are sometimes considered "double planets". DoeJohnCHSWord 1 3/10/2010 Summary We have learned much about our solar system, but that knowledge is not complete. We are still exploring and learning about this vast area called space. There is still much to learn in the future: We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. -- T. S. Eliot Controversy surrounds the classification of these planetary objects. Typically the solar system is divided into planets (heavenly bodies orbiting the Sun), their satellites (moons orbiting the planets), asteroids (also orbits the Sun) and comets (eccentric orbits). According to the Nine Planets web site, the solar system has been found to be more complicated than the above description would suggest: Information on the planets can be found at: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu DoeJohnCHSWord 2 3/10/2010