Compare (and Contrast) the Two Types of Planets Found in Our Solar System

Comparison Between the
Two Types of Planets in our
Solar System
Introduction
Planets are the celestial bodies that o
it around the sun. According to the International
Astronomical Unit, planet is described as “a celestial body that is in o
it around the Sun, has
sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a
hydrostatic equili
ium (nearly round) shape, and has cleared the neighbourhood around its
o
it” (2016). Earlier there were nine planets namely Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto; however, Pluto has been disregarded as a planet now
leaving only eight planets in the solar system.
Planets can be classified into various types on different basis; however, depending upon the
physical and chemical characteristics of the planets, they are divided into two types, i.e.
Jovian Planets and Te
estrial Planets. The Jovian Planets are the gaseous planets that are
larger in size and have low densities. These are the outer planets of the solar system and
include four planets, i.e. Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter. The Te
estrial Planets are the
ocky planets that have higher densities and are smaller than Jovian Planets. The inner four
planets of the solar system, i.e. Mars, Earth, Venus and Mercury are included in this type of
planets. The further details about these types of planets are discussed in this section.
Analysis
As described, the Jovian planets are the outer planets of the solar system. The main
characteristic features of these planets include:
 Mainly composed of two gases, i.e. helium and hydrogen along with a various other
heavy elements.
 Possess ring systems along with multiple moons. “Saturn and Jupiter each have more
than 60 moons, Uranus has more than 20, and Neptune has more than 10” (NASA,
2012)
 The distance of these planets determine the atmospheric conditions of these planets,
i.e. the more the distance is the cooler its atmosphere. This is a reason due to which
there are distinct layer of clouds in each of these planets. The colour is particularly
given by the presence of trace gases in the atmosphere of Jovian planets and not due
to helium and hydrogen
 The colour of these planets differs due to the difference in the cloud height,
composition and temperature of each planet. This can be understood by difference in
the blue-green colour of Neptune and Uranus due to the less methane concentration in
the upper atmosphere of these planets.
The Te
estrial Planets, as described, are the rocky planets. The main characteristic features
of these planets include:
 Composed of mainly metals and silicate rocks. They possess solid surfaces; however,
Earth is the only te
estrial plane that possess liquid or water while there are some
eports suggesting the Mars also had water in past.
 Possess a central core that is mainly composed of iron. “The layer above the core is
called the “mantle” and is usually made of silicate rocks. These are rocks rich in
silicon and oxygen” (Te
estrial Planets, n.d.)
 Comet impacts and volcanic activities generate the secondary atmospheres in the
te
estrial planets.
 Possess either very few or no moon. As per the findings, “Venus and Mercury have
no moons, while Earth has only the one (the Moon). Mars has two satellites, Phobos
http:
www.universetoday.com/111898/phobos-deimos-the-moons-of-mars-explained
and Deimos, but these are more akin to large...