March 29, 2024
1 Misunderstood information about the eight planets of the solar system

1 Misunderstood information about the eight planets of the solar system

our Solar System It consists of eight planets – since Pluto was “expelled” – which are nothing more than giant stars orbiting an even larger star. This information alone would be interesting enough, but the presence of life on Earth makes it even more interesting.

Throughout human history, we have spent years and years trying to discover more about this universe around us, unveiling different information about other planets whenever science takes a new step. However, we were not always right. Look at at least one misconception about every planet in the solar system!

1. Mercury

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Many people think that Mercury, the small, rocky planet closest to the sun, will be the hottest planet in our solar system. However, this information is not correct. It rotates very slowly on its axis, one day on Mercury is equivalent to 176 Earth days.

During the day, the temperature on the planet can reach 430°C, while the night temperature can reach -180°C. Although it is the second planet in our solar system, Venus is much hotter than Mercury, with surface temperatures exceeding 475 degrees Celsius.

2. Venus

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You may have heard around you that Venus is the twin sister of Earth, mainly because the two planets have almost the same size and density – both with a rocky surface and characterized by an atmosphere capable of retaining gases and heat.

However, the similarities stop there. The air on Venus is made mostly of carbon dioxide, the same gas that pollutes our atmosphere and disrupts the existence of life. So, the truth is that the two planets are not as equal as we thought.

3. Earth

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One lie that’s always been propagated is the fact that the Earth is round – deniers calm down, that doesn’t mean it’s flat either. As the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration describes it, the Earth is actually an “irregular elliptical”.

And what does that mean? Basically, we live on an elliptical planet. Moreover, the Earth’s shape is constantly changing due to floods, explosions, earthquakes, etc.

4. Mars

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in many ways, Mars It is a planet more like Earth than Venus has ever been. Because of this, some people have come to imagine that our astronauts have actually stepped on the Red Planet in the past — just as they did on the Moon. However, this information is not correct.

Right now, space agencies have put a lot of resources into making this type of mission possible in the years to come. However, until now, only a few rovers have been able to give us a close look at what our neighboring planet looks like.

5. Jupiter

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Jupiter is by far the largest planet in our solar system in terms of circumference. Unlike the others mentioned earlier on this list, it is a gaseous planet. Thinking about it, many people thought that if we could travel there, it would be possible to cross the planet into two halves with a spacecraft.

Even if we ignore the fact that Jupiter has three layers of gases 70 kilometers thick, one must bear in mind that the planet’s interior has such great pressure and high temperatures that the gases are liquid – not to mention the terrible storms. in the area.

6. Saturn

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It is the second largest planet in the solar system Saturn, which stands out from the rest for its amazing episodes. During four centuries of studies, most astronomers have found it difficult to find words to describe this phenomenon and to understand the formation and origin of the rings.

For some time it was believed that the rings of Saturn could be a solid part of the planet. However, after we sent a variety of probes to closely observe this very distant star, we discovered that it consists of fragments of water, ice and rock – left over from previous collisions of comets or moons.

7. Uranus

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Discovered by researcher William Herschel in 1781, Uranus was named after the Greek god of the sky. Only the Voyager 2 probe passed near the planet in 1986, collecting some information. This is how we discovered some important data.

Uranus is one of the least dense planets in the solar system, it has 27 moons and its atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen, helium and methane – the same thing that goes out in cow feces. So does Uranus smell like a fart? Research indicates, however, that exposing the gas to temperatures of -200°C completely suppresses the stench.

8. Neptune

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Along with Uranus, Neptune is the second ice giant in our solar system. However, because these two planets are the furthest from Earth, we know very little about them — other than a brief visit by Voyager 2. And as far as has been studied, this planet has many moons and the windiest atmospheres in the solar system.

For a long time, it was believed that Uranus and Neptune are the same shade of color. However, new studies have shown that the fact that Uranus is enveloped in a much thicker layer of methane than Neptune makes it a lighter blue in color than its neighboring planet.