Stadskällaren lycksele öppettider

El ligeramente más grande de estos gigantes de hielo, Urano, es famoso por rotar sobre su costado. Starting with early telescopic discoveries and culminating in robotic probes and rovers, we now have direct data from all major planetary bodies and even interstellar space.

Historical Milestones

• 1609: Galileo Galilei uses a telescope to observe Jupiter’s moons and Venus’s phases.
• 1781: William Herschel discovers Uranus.
• 1930: Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto.
• 1957: Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, is launched by the USSR.
• 1969: Apollo 11 lands the first humans on the Moon.
• 1971–1980s: Mars missions and Voyager probes begin mapping the outer planets.

Notable Missions

Ongoing and Future Missions

• Perseverance is collecting samples on Mars for future return.
• Europa Clipper (launched 2024) plans on exploring Europa’s subsurface ocean.
• Dragonfly (planned launch 2028) will send a rotorcraft to Titan.
• James Webb Space Telescope is identifying and characterizing exoplanets and distant Solar System objects.

FAQs About the Solar System

Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?
A: Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 because it does not “clear its orbit” of other debris.

How far does the Solar System extend?
A: The influence of the Sun’s gravity may extend up to a light-year, including the Oort Cloud.

What is the largest planet?
A: Jupiter is the largest, with a diameter of about 142,984 km and mass over 300 times that of Earth.

Which planet has the most moons?
A: As of 2025, Saturn has the most confirmed moons (over 145), followed closely by Jupiter.

Could there be a ninth planet?
A: Scientists hypothesize a “Planet Nine” based on unusual orbits of trans-Neptunian objects, but it hasn’t been observed.

Can life exist elsewhere in the Solar System?
A: Possibly—moons like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan may harbor subsurface oceans or conditions favorable to microbial life.

How do we explore the Solar System?
A: Through space probes (Voyager, New Horizons), telescopes, and robotic landers (e.g., Mars rovers).

How long does it take to travel across the Solar System?
A: At current spacecraft speeds, it takes decades to reach the outer regions; Voyager 1 has traveled ~160 AU since 1977.

References

• Chrysostomou, A.; Lucas, P.

  W. (2005). Sus superficies son sólidas. Including the Oort cloud, the size of the Solar System is around 2-4 light years in diameter.

  ---

  Components of the Solar System

  Here’s a breakdown of the main components:

  Sun

  • A G2V main-sequence star containing over 99.8% of the Solar System’s mass.
  • Provides the energy that drives climate and supports life on Earth.

  Major Planets (in order from the Sun)

  1. Mercury – Smallest, no significant atmosphere, closest to the Sun.
  2. Venus – Similar in size to Earth, thick CO₂ atmosphere, extreme greenhouse effect.
  3. Earth – Only known life-bearing planet.
  4. Mars – Known as the Red Planet, home to the largest volcano in the Solar System.
  5. Jupiter – Largest planet, gas giant with dozens of moons.
  6. Saturn – Gas giant famous for its extensive ring system.
  7. Uranus – Ice giant with a tilted rotational axis.
  8. Neptune – Farthest known major planet, strong winds and dark spots.

  Moons

  • Over 200 moons orbiting planets and dwarf planets.
  • Largest is Ganymede (Jupiter), bigger than Mercury.

  Dwarf Planets

  • Recognized by the IAU for not having cleared their orbits.

    doi:10.1080/0010751042000275277

  • de la Fuente Marcos, C.; de la Fuente Marcos, R. (2024). Venus is the hottest planet with temperatures of up to 867 degrees Fahrenheit, due to an atmosphere of carbon dioxide and extensive lava flows. Venus es el planeta más caliente con temperaturas de hasta 867 grados Fahrenheit, debido a una atmósfera de dióxido de carbono y extensos flujos de lava.

    In this theory:

    • Gravitational collapse led to the formation of the Sun at the center.
    • Remaining material formed a protoplanetary disk.
    • Planetesimals coalesced into planets through accretion and collision.
    • Outer planets retained light gases due to cooler temperatures and greater mass.

    ---

    Present and Future of the Solar System

    The Solar System is every-changing:

    Present State:

    • Stable planetary orbits.
    • Ongoing evolution: asteroid impacts, solar variability, comet orbits.
    • Technological exploration: satellites, probes, and telescopes.

    Future Outlook:

    In the distant future, the Solar System looks very different:

    • 5 billion years: Sun enters red giant phase; Earth likely becomes uninhabitable.
    • 6–7 billion years: Sun sheds outer layers and becomes a white dwarf.
    • Outer planets likely remain intact, possibly escaping into interstellar space.

    ---

    Comparison With Extrasolar Systems

    Many stars have planets and other bodies, but there is a wide variation between them:

    Feature	Solar System	Extrasolar Systems
    Number of Planets	8 major planets	Varies; some with >10 planets
    Planet Types	Rocky and gas/ice giants	Includes hot Jupiters, super-Earths
    Orbital Configuration	Mostly circular, near-ecliptic plane	Often elliptical, tilted orbits
    Host Star	G2V star (Sun)	Various types (M-dwarfs common)
    Habitable Zone	Well-defined, Earth within it	Varies greatly by star type

    ---

    Habitability Zone (Goldilocks Zone)

    The habitable zone or Goldilocks zone is the region around a star where temperatures allow liquid water to exist on a planet’s surface.

    Beyond the Kuiper belt is the Oort Cloud, a vast spherical collection of icy debris. 〰️