Interesting Facts You Should Know About the Solar System

Posted by Stocktrekimages on November 7th, 2013

Know the important facts about the solar sytem, how the celestile bodies move around the stationery sun.

“The purpose of this article is to shed light on some interesting facts about the solar system.”

Myths about Solar System

The ancient Greeks were the pioneers in trying to explain the theory of the solar system, how the celestial bodies move in the universe. A logical explanation was that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west; Earth was a stationary object and sun circulated around it every day. The idea was reasonable but partially wrong. When the astronomers strive to clarify the motion of the heavenly bodies based on the geocentric theory of the universe, some irregularities emerged.

Famous Astronomers’ experiments

Ptolemy has made important contributions in the field of astronomy, astrology and in other geographic concepts. The geocentric model of the solar system symbolizes a perfect version of Ptolemy’s model, constructed with the practical knowledge of the true motions of the celestial bodies. In this model, the sun, moon, and other planets orbit the stationary earth. A Greek astronomer, Aristarchus of Samos, first presented the theory that the sun was the center of the solar system, but his idea was discarded in favor of the theories of Ptolemy that the Earth was at the center of the solar system. It was a controversial issue, and at last, Galileo supported the heliocentric theory.

Solar system regions

Today, we all know that the solar system consists of the Sun, the nine planets, asteroids, comets, and other interesting astronomical objects. This important part of the universe is divided into different regions, which are as below:

• The inner region of the solar system consists of four planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
• Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, the Asteroid belt exists.
• The outer gas giant planets consists of Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune.
• The Kuiper belt (a region of asteroids and comets) lies beyond the orbit of the last planet, Neptune.

Planet Found beyond the Solar System

According to a recent report from the New York Times, American astronomers have discovered the first planet detected outside the solar system. They found a huge, gaseous object orbiting a dim star in the constellation Ophiuchus. Astronomers believe that the dim star is 9^th-10^th the size of Jupiter. But its density is estimated to be 30 to 80 times as great as Jupiter's. The dim object’s surface temperature was estimated at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This star is not visible to the naked eyes, but people with powerful telescopes might be able to see it.

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