Earth and Space > Solar System Data
Note that Pluto is no longer classed as a planet. Scientists agreed that for a celestial body to qualify as a planet:
- it must be in orbit around the Sun
- it must be large enough that it takes on a nearly round shape
- it has cleared its orbit of other objects
Pluto was automatically disqualified because its highly elliptical orbit overlaps with Neptune. It will now join a new category of dwarf planets.
| |
Mercury |
Venus |
Earth |
Mars |
Jupiter |
Saturn |
Uranus |
Neptune |
| Distance from sun (million miles) |
36 |
67.2 |
93 |
141.6 |
483.6 |
886.7 |
1,784 |
2,794.4 |
| Orbit (years) |
0.24 |
0.62 |
1 |
1.88 |
11.86 |
29.46 |
84.01 |
164.79 |
| Orbital velocity (km/s) |
47.89 |
35.04 |
29.79 |
24.14 |
13.06 |
9.64 |
6.81 |
5.43 |
| Radius (equator) |
2439 |
6052 |
6378 |
3397 |
71490 |
60268 |
25559 |
25269 |
| Radius (polar) |
2439 |
6052 |
6357 |
3380 |
66854 |
54360 |
24973 |
24340 |
Mean density
(g/cm³) |
5.43 |
5.25 |
5.52 |
3.95 |
1.33 |
0.69 |
1.29 |
1.64 |
| Mass (earth=1) |
0.06 |
0.82 |
1 |
0.11 |
317.89 |
95.18 |
14.53 |
17.14 |
| Body rotation (hours) |
1408 |
5832 |
23.93 |
24.62 |
9.92 |
10.66 |
17.24 |
16.11 |
| Equator to orbit tilt (degrees) |
2 |
177.3 |
23.45 |
25.19 |
3.12 |
26.73 |
97.86 |
29.6 |
| satellites |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
>28 |
30 |
24 |
8 |