Solar System Objects: Size-Sorted List

The Solar System is a gravitationally bound system. The Sun contains the vast majority of the system’s mass. The remaining mass is contained in objects that orbit the Sun. Large objects that orbit the Sun include eight relatively isolated planets, dwarf planets such as Pluto, and smaller Solar System bodies. This article provides a list of solar system objects, sorted by size, to provide better understanding of their features.

Hey there, fellow space enthusiasts! Buckle up, because we’re about to embark on a whirlwind tour of our very own cosmic neighborhood—the Solar System! Prepare to have your mind blown by the sheer diversity and awesomeness of the celestial bodies that call this place home.

From the scorching surfaces of inner planets to the icy realms of the outer reaches, our Solar System is a veritable playground of planetary wonders. We’re talking about everything from the familiar faces like the planets, including our own precious Earth, to the intriguing dwarf planets, the mesmerizing dance of the moons, and the rocky rebels of the asteroid belt, all the way out to the mysterious Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) lurking in the distant Kuiper Belt and beyond.

Think of it like this: the Solar System is like the ultimate cosmic reality show, packed with drama, suspense, and breathtaking scenery. And the best part? The show is still running, with new discoveries being made all the time! We have lots to explore, so get ready!

Throughout our journey, we’ll be relying on some pretty trustworthy guides, like the brilliant minds at NASA and the groundbreaking research published in scientific journals. These folks are the real MVPs of space exploration, constantly pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and helping us unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. If you want to dive even deeper into any of these topics, be sure to check out their resources—you won’t be disappointed!

Our Guiding Light: The Sun

Ah, the Sun! That big, bright ball of gas that makes Mondays bearable and summer vacations possible. Seriously though, imagine the Solar System without it – just a bunch of icy rocks drifting aimlessly in the dark. Not a pretty picture! The Sun isn’t just a star; it’s our star, the heart of our cosmic neighborhood, and the reason we’re all here sipping iced tea (or whatever your beverage of choice is).

Let’s dive into what makes this stellar powerhouse tick. First off, the Sun is HUGE. We’re talking about roughly 109 times the diameter of Earth. Now, that’s a seriously big number. It also makes it a massive gravitational force, keeping all the planets, asteroids, and other space debris in their respective orbits. It’s like the ultimate cosmic traffic controller, making sure everything stays in its lane!

The Sun’s composition is primarily hydrogen (~71%) and helium (~27%), with trace amounts of other elements. Deep inside the core, all that hydrogen gets squeezed together so tightly that atoms begin to fuse together, creating helium and releasing insane amounts of energy. This is the process of nuclear fusion, and it’s what makes the Sun shine so brightly. The amount of energy the sun releases is mind-boggling.

But the Sun isn’t just a smooth, glowing orb. Its surface is a dynamic place with all sorts of fascinating phenomena happening. You’ve probably heard of sunspots, those darker, cooler areas on the Sun’s surface that come and go in cycles. And then there are solar flares, sudden bursts of energy that can disrupt radio communications here on Earth. It’s like the Sun is having a bit of a temper tantrum, but on a truly epic scale!
The Sun’s influence extends far beyond just giving us a tan. It dictates the orbits of the planets, keeping them in a delicate balance. It also plays a major role in determining the climate of each planet. The further away a planet is from the Sun, the colder it tends to be. That’s why Mercury is a scorching desert while Neptune is a frozen wasteland. Thanks to our Sun’s influence, Earth is just the right distance to allow liquid water to exist on our planet. The Sun is more than just a star; it’s the reason Earth is habitable.

Planets Up Close: A Rocky Start and Gas Giants

Buckle up, space cadets! After our sun-soaked intro, it’s time to meet the VIPs of our Solar System’s planetary lineup. We’re talking planets, baby! We’ll be dividing them into two awesome categories: the inner, rocky planets, and the outer, ginormous gas (and ice!) giants. Think of it as the Solar System’s version of “Houses,” but way cooler.

Inner Planets (Terrestrial): The Rocky Bunch

First up, let’s explore the inner circle, the scrappy, rocky planets closest to the Sun. These are the terrestrial titans!

• Mercury: The swift messenger, closest to the Sun and ready to tell you the news, if he had a voice. It’s like the Solar System’s speed demon, always zipping around. Imagine a world with extreme temperatures, scorching hot days and freezing cold nights (we’re talking temperature swings from 430°C (800°F) to -180°C (-290°F). And it’s covered in craters like a cosmic pin cushion! Its diameter? A mere 4,880 km (3,032 miles).

• Venus: Earth’s scorching twin (but definitely the evil one, or at least mischievous). Picture this: a dense atmosphere creating a runaway greenhouse effect. The result? A surface hot enough to melt lead and it’s also got volcanic activity, because why not add fire to the oven? Its diameter is 12,104 km (7,521 miles), almost the same size as earth!

• Earth: Ah, our precious home, the goldilocks of our Solar System. This is where the magic happens. Think liquid water, teeming with life, and diverse ecosystems that make every nature documentary worth watching. We’ve got it all! Diameter 12,756 km (7,926 miles) a big beautiful marble in the dark void.

• Mars: The Red Planet, our rusty neighbor, and a potential future home. Picture a world with a thin atmosphere, polar ice caps, and the lingering question: did life ever exist here? Is it currently here? The search continues! Maybe you’ll find it. Diameter 6,792 km (4,220 miles).

Outer Planets (Gas/Ice Giants): The Big Boys

Now, let’s journey to the outer reaches, where gas and ice giants dominate. These are the heavy hitters of the Solar System!

• Jupiter: The Solar System’s behemoth, the king of the planets. It’s so huge that all the other planets could fit inside it! Picture immense size, colorful cloud bands swirling around and its famous Great Red Spot, a storm that’s been raging for centuries. Also, it has a bazillion moons (okay, maybe not a bazillion, but close enough). Diameter is a colossal 142,984 km (88,846 miles).

• Saturn: The ringed jewel, the most beautiful planet in our Solar System. Its stunning ring system, composed of ice and rock, is truly a sight to behold. The atmosphere is intriguing, and its moons are pretty interesting in their own right. Diameter is 120,536 km (74,898 miles).

• Uranus: The tilted ice giant. What’s unique about Uranus? Well, it’s tilted on its side, spinning like a cosmic bowling ball. Its blue-green color is thanks to methane in its atmosphere, and it has faint rings, too. Diameter is 51,118 km (31,763 miles).

• Neptune: The distant blue world. Way out there, we find Neptune, a remote and mysterious planet with strong winds and a Great Dark Spot (which has since disappeared, talk about drama!). It’s a cold, windy, and distant world. Diameter is 49,528 km (30,775 miles).

Dwarf Planets: Beyond Neptune and in the Asteroid Belt

What’s smaller than a planet but still packs a cosmic punch? That’s right, we’re diving into the fascinating world of dwarf planets! These celestial bodies are like the underdogs of our Solar System, not quite making the cut as full-fledged planets but still holding their own with unique features and interesting stories.

So, what exactly is a dwarf planet, and how is it different from a regular planet? Well, it all boils down to a few key factors. A dwarf planet orbits the Sun, isn’t a moon of another planet, and has enough gravity to pull itself into a nearly round shape. However, here’s the kicker: unlike a planet, a dwarf planet hasn’t cleared its orbital neighborhood of other objects. Think of it like a cosmic game of clean-up; a true planet has swept its path, while a dwarf planet still has some debris hanging around.

Let’s meet some of the coolest dwarf planets in our cosmic neighborhood:

Pluto: The Once and Future Planet

Ah, Pluto! The most famous dwarf planet of them all, Pluto was discovered in 1930 and long considered the ninth planet. This icy world resides in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune filled with icy bodies. Pluto has a heart-shaped glacier, a thin atmosphere, and a large moon named Charon (which is so big, some consider Pluto and Charon a double dwarf planet system!).

Diameter: Approximately 2,377 kilometers (1,477 miles).

Eris: The Reclassification Rebel

Eris is a distant dwarf planet located in the Scattered Disc, even farther out than the Kuiper Belt. Its discovery in 2005 was a game-changer, as Eris is actually slightly larger than Pluto. This discovery forced astronomers to reconsider the definition of a planet, ultimately leading to Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet. Talk about shaking things up!

Diameter: Approximately 2,326 kilometers (1,445 miles).

Makemake: The Mysterious Redhead

Makemake is another dwarf planet chilling out in the Kuiper Belt. It’s known for its reddish color and lack of a substantial atmosphere. This icy world is named after a creator god from Rapa Nui mythology and is a fascinating object for astronomers to study.

Diameter: Approximately 1,430 kilometers (890 miles).

Haumea: The Elongated Oddball

Haumea is one of the most unique dwarf planets in our Solar System. Located in the Kuiper Belt, Haumea is elongated, shaped like a football, and spins incredibly fast – completing a rotation in just under four hours! It also has two moons and a ring system, making it a truly bizarre and fascinating object.

Diameter: Approximately 1,960 x 1,500 x 990 kilometers (1,218 x 932 x 615 miles) – it’s not round, remember!

Ceres: The Asteroid Belt Pioneer

Ceres is the largest object in the Asteroid Belt, located between Mars and Jupiter. Unlike the other dwarf planets on this list, Ceres is much closer to home. It’s composed of rock and ice and has been explored by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, revealing a surprisingly complex surface with evidence of past water activity.

Diameter: Approximately 940 kilometers (584 miles).

A Symphony of Moons: Orbiting Worlds

Let’s face it, planets hog all the glory. But what about their trusty companions, the moons? These aren’t just lifeless rocks orbiting aimlessly; they’re fascinating worlds in their own right, each with its own unique story to tell. From volcanic infernos to potential havens for life, these moons prove that the Solar System’s drama extends far beyond the planetary stage. It’s time to shine the spotlight on these unsung heroes.

Featured Moons: A Celestial Showcase

The Moon (Earth)

• We’ll start with our own familiar buddy, the Moon. It’s more than just a pretty face in the night sky, you know? Its phases, from sliver-thin crescents to a glorious full orb, are caused by its orbit around Earth, and its gravitational pull creates the tides that crash against our shores. Estimated Diameter: 3,475 km (2,159 miles).

Ganymede (Jupiter)

• Next, we’re off to Jupiter to gawk at Ganymede, a moon so big, it outshines the planet Mercury! Not only is it massive, but scientists suspect a hidden saltwater ocean lurks beneath its icy surface. The thought of a subsurface ocean makes one wonder if life can occur there. Estimated Diameter: 5,268 km (3,273 miles).

Titan (Saturn)

• Speaking of oceans, let’s swing by Titan, Saturn’s enigmatic moon draped in a thick, hazy atmosphere. Forget water; Titan boasts lakes and rivers of liquid methane! It’s a bizarre, alien world where the chemistry might just be right for prebiotic compounds to form. Estimated Diameter: 5,150 km (3,200 miles).

Callisto (Jupiter)

• Back to Jupiter, we’re visiting Callisto, a battered and ancient moon whose surface is absolutely covered in craters, a testament to billions of years of cosmic impacts. Scientists believe that deep beneath that cratered surface may lie another ocean. Estimated Diameter: 4,821 km (2,996 miles).

Io (Jupiter)

• Now for something completely different: Io, a moon that gives new meaning to the word “volcanic.” This place is an absolute inferno, constantly erupting due to the immense tidal forces exerted by Jupiter. It’s a fiery world unlike anything else in our Solar System. Estimated Diameter: 3,643 km (2,264 miles).

Europa (Jupiter)

• Europa, another of Jupiter’s fascinating moons, is smooth as a billiard ball, with a surface made of ice and is considered one of the most promising places to search for life beyond Earth, thanks to its believed subsurface ocean. Estimated Diameter: 3,122 km (1,940 miles).

Triton (Neptune)

• Heading out to the fringes of the Solar System, we find Triton, Neptune’s oddball moon. It orbits Neptune in the opposite direction of the planet’s rotation, hinting that it’s a captured object from the Kuiper Belt. It might also be cryovolcanically active, meaning it spews out icy materials instead of molten rock. Estimated Diameter: 2,707 km (1,682 miles).

Titania (Uranus)

• Let’s take a look at Uranus. Here we have Titania, the biggest moon of Uranus. This world is thought to have internal activity but further research needs to occur. Estimated Diameter: 1,578 km (981 miles).

Rhea (Saturn)

• Rhea is a moon of Saturn and appears to have a thin atmosphere that contains oxygen and carbon dioxide. In fact, this is the only moon other than Earth’s moon known to have oxygen. Estimated Diameter: 1,528 km (949 miles).

Oberon (Uranus)

• Oberon is a moon of Uranus. It is the second-largest moon of Uranus. Oberon is another cratered surface which hints at possible past or internal activity. Estimated Diameter: 1,523 km (946 miles).

Iapetus (Saturn)

• Let’s get back to Saturn! Iapetus is Saturn’s third-largest natural satellite, and tenth-largest in the Solar System. What makes this moon interesting is the extreme contrasting colors of its surface: One side is bright while the other side is dark. There’s an equatorial ridge that goes three-quarters around Iapetus, which gives the moon a walnut-like shape. Estimated Diameter: 1,469 km (913 miles).

Umbriel (Uranus)

• A dark moon that orbits Uranus is Umbriel. The surface of Umbriel is heavily cratered. This Uranian moon is known as the darkest of the major moons. Estimated Diameter: 1,170 km (727 miles).

Ariel (Uranus)

• Ariel is the fourth-largest of the moons of Uranus. Ariel has the brightest surface of all the Uranian moons, and is thought to have past geologic activity and a relatively young surface. Estimated Diameter: 1,160 km (721 miles).

Dione (Saturn)

• Next we travel back to Saturn. Dione is another icy moon that has wispy terrains and an icy surface. It’s composed mainly of water ice, and it’s thought to have a subsurface ocean that can be found 100 km below the surface. Estimated Diameter: 1,123 km (698 miles).

Tethys (Saturn)

• Crater-struck Tethys, another of Saturn’s moons, shows off a massive impact crater known as Odysseus. It’s a constant reminder of the chaotic past of our Solar System. Estimated Diameter: 1,062 km (660 miles).

Enceladus (Saturn)

• Hold onto your hats, because Enceladus is a real showstopper. This moon of Saturn is shooting plumes of water ice and organic molecules from its south pole, which strongly suggests a subsurface ocean ripe with potential for life. Estimated Diameter: 504 km (313 miles).

Miranda (Uranus)

• Last but definitely not least, we have Miranda, a moon of Uranus that looks like it was assembled from spare parts. Its surface is a jumbled mess of canyons, cliffs, and terraces, suggesting a violent and chaotic past. Estimated Diameter: 470 km (292 miles).

Proteus (Neptune)

• Proteus is the second-largest moon of Neptune. It’s one of the largest in the Solar System that is not spherical in shape due to its irregular shape, and it also has a heavily-cratered surface. Estimated Diameter: 420 km (261 miles).

Mimas (Saturn)

• Last but not least, Mimas, a moon of Saturn, is often compared to the Death Star from Star Wars, thanks to its enormous impact crater, Herschel. This crater stretches almost a third of the moon’s diameter, making Mimas one of the most recognizable moons in the Solar System. Estimated Diameter: 396 km (246 miles).

Asteroids and TNOs: The Solar System’s Small Bodies

Alright, buckle up, space cadets! We’re about to dive into the realm of the smaller members of our cosmic family – the asteroids and Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Don’t let the term “small” fool you; these celestial crumbs are packed with fascinating secrets and play a vital role in the Solar System’s story. Think of them as the underdogs of our stellar neighborhood, often overlooked but definitely worth getting to know.

So, where do we find these cosmic pebbles? Well, many asteroids hang out in the Asteroid Belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter. Picture a racetrack filled with rocky and metallic debris – that’s the Asteroid Belt in a nutshell! These asteroids are leftovers from the Solar System’s formation, bits and pieces that never quite made it into becoming a planet. Let’s shine a spotlight on a few of the headliners:

Notable Asteroids:

• Vesta: This asteroid isn’t just any old space rock; it’s a differentiated asteroid, meaning it has distinct layers like a planet! It even has a basaltic surface, hinting at past volcanic activity. Imagine, a mini-world with its own geological history! Vesta’s diameter is about 525 kilometers (326 miles).

• Pallas: Now, Pallas is a bit of a rebel. It’s got an irregular shape and a primitive composition, suggesting it hasn’t changed much since the early days of the Solar System. It’s like a time capsule floating in space! Pallas measures roughly 512 kilometers (318 miles) across.

• Hygiea: Here’s a big one. Hygiea, measuring approximately 434 kilometers (270 miles) in diameter, is one of the largest asteroids in the asteroid belt. There is growing evidence that Hygiea is spherical enough to be classified as a dwarf planet, although this is not yet confirmed.

Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs): The Distant Wanderers

Now, let’s venture way beyond Neptune to the frigid outer reaches of the Solar System. Here, we find the Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), lurking in the Kuiper Belt and the more distant Scattered Disc. These icy bodies are like the introverted neighbors of the Solar System, keeping to themselves in the cold and dark.

• Quaoar: One of the larger TNOs out there! Quaoar has a diameter of approximately 1,070 kilometers (665 miles) and its icy surface is thought to contain a mix of methane and ethane.

• Orcus: Orcus is sometimes referred to as the “anti-Pluto” because its orbit is similar to Pluto’s but oriented in the opposite direction. It also has a relatively large moon, Vanth. Orcus has a diameter of about 910 kilometers (565 miles).

• Sedna: Sedna is an enigma! Its orbit is extremely elongated, taking it incredibly far from the Sun (and us!). Some scientists think its unusual orbit might have been shaped by a passing star in the Solar System’s distant past. Its diameter measures around 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).

So, there you have it – a cosmic lineup of our solar system’s heavyweights, ranging from the sun’s dominating presence to the tiniest asteroids. It really puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? Next time you gaze up at the night sky, remember the sheer variety and scale of the objects sharing our corner of the universe!