The Solar System

The Solar System

The Sun

The Sun, also called Sol or Helios, is the closest star to Earth. It is a G-type main-sequence star with a diameter 109 times that of the Earth's. The Sun is made of

Deities: Helios and Helen of Troy (Greek), Sol (Roman), Shamash (Babylonian), Shapash (Canaanite), Ra (Egyptian)

Mercury

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is the smallest and innermost planet in the Solar System. With a diameter of 4,879.4 kilometers. The surface of Mercury

Deities: Hermes (Roman), Mercury (Roman), Thoth (Egyptian), Budha (Hinduism), Nabu (Babylonian)

Venus

Venus is the second-closest planet to the Sun. It has thick clouds, because

Deities: Aphrodite (Greek), Venus (Roman), Astarte (Canaanite), Ishtar (Babylonian), Inanna (Mesopotamian)

Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun and has the largest average density of any planet. It is known to harbor life and is the only Solar System body known to do so. It has an average diameter of 12,742 kilometers.

Deities: Gaia and Hera (Greek), Tellus Mater and Juno (Roman), Ninhursag (Mesopotamian), Antu and Ki (Babylonian), Dheghom (Proto-Indo-European).

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest by volume. Its has a diameter of 6,779 kilometers. Mars has a liquid water. Mars is made out of

Deities: Ares (Greek), Mars (Roman), Nergal (Babylonian), Kartikeya-Mangala (Hinduism)

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System. It is the fifth planet from the Sun. With a diameter of 139,822 kilometers, it has a mass more than 300 times greater than that of Earth's. Jupiter has a feature storm called the Great Red Spot. The atmosphere of Jupiter is made of . Jupiter has a faint ring system and 79 moons

Deities: Zeus (Greek), Jupiter (Roman), Marduk and Hadad (Babylonian), Briaspati (Hinduism), Dyeus Pther (Proto-Indo-European)

Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is the second-largest planet in the Solar System. With a diameter of 116,464 kilometers, but a mass only 95 times that of the Earth, Saturn is, on average, less dense than water. Saturn has its ring system which is around 280,000 kilometers thick. Saturn is made of . Saturn has 82 moons

Deities: Cronus-Chronos (Greek), Saturn (Roman), Ninurta and Enlil (Babylonian), Shani (Hinduism), Geb (Egyptian)

Uranus

Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and the third-largest in diameter or volume. Uranus is made of hydrogen, helium, water ices, and traces of hydrocarbons. Uranus has its faint ring system. Uranus has 27 known moons.

Deities: Aion-Ouranos (Greek), Uranus and Caelus (Roman), Anu (Babylonian)

Neptune

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun, the fourth largest in volume, and the third largest in mass. It is the densest of the ice and gas giant planets, and was discovered through mathematical calculations as its gravity was perturbing and affecting the orbital course of Uranus. Neptune is made of . Neptune has storms. Neptune has faint rings and 14 moons.

Deities: Poseidon (Greek), Neptune (Roman), Yam (Canaanite), Varuna (Hinduism)

Dwarf Planets

Pluto

Pluto is the largest and second-most massive dwarf planet of our Solar System, and the first discovered, found in 1930.

Haumea

Haumea

Makemake

Makemake is named after a creator god of Easter Island. It has one moon.

Eris

Eris

Asteroids

Ceres

Ceres is the largest asteroid in the Solar System. With a diameter of 946 kilometers, it also assumes a round shape, and is thus also considered a dwarf planet.

Deities: Demeter (Greek), Ceres (Roman), Geshtinanna (Babylonian), Bhumi (Hinduism)

Moons of Our Solar System

The Moon

The Moon (or Luna) is Earth’s natural satellite. It has an average density of 3.34 grams per cubic centimeter and orbits the Earth every 28 days at an average distance of 384,400 kilometers away.

Deities: Selene and Phoebe (Greek), Luna (Roman), Nanna (Babylonian), Chandra (Hinduism)

Io

Io is the

Europa

Europa is

Ganymede

Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter and the largest overall in the Solar System, with a volume greater than that of Mercury. However, it is mostly ice, so it is less dense and less massive than Mercury.

Callisto

Callisto is the fourth major or Galilean moon of Jupiter and is nearly as voluminous as Mercury.

Titan

Titan is the second-largest moon in the Solar System and the largest attendant of Saturn. It is also massive enough to hold on to a thick atmosphere.

Mimas

Mimas is

Enceladus

Enceladus is an icy moon of Saturn. It has the highest albedo of Saturn's other moons - it is very reflective.

Rhea

Rhea is the second-largest moon of Saturn. It was once believed to harbor a ring system, though is now known not to. It has a diameter of 1,528 kilometers.

Deities: Rhea (Greek), Ops (Roman), Cybele (Anatolian), Asherah (Canaanite), Nut (Egyptian)

Triton

Triton is the largest moon of Neptune. With a diameter of 2,706 kilometers, it orbits Neptune in a retrograde manner, hinting that it may have once been a planet captured by Neptune's gravity.