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the solar system


            "A planet is a celestial body that revolves around a .
             central star and does not shine by its own light " (Grolier, .
             1992). The only planetary system that is known to man is our .
             solar system. It is made up of nine planets which range in size .
             and make-up. The nine major planets in our solar system are .
             Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and .
             Pluto. There are also many other minor planets which are also in .
             our solar system, but they are unimportant compared to the nine .
             major planets. In this paper I will discuss the planets and how .
             they are each unique. .
             Mercury which is the planet that is closest to the sun is .
             the first planet I will discuss. Mercury is the smallest of the .
             inner planets. It is speculated that the heat from the sun made .
             it impossible for the gases present to become part of the .
             planetary formation. The surface of Mercury is extremely hot. .
             It is approximately 470 degrees celsius on the surface and is .
             thought to be even hotter at the two " hot spots." These " hot .
             spots " are on opposite ends of the equator. It is the heat of .
             the surface that makes it impossible for Mercury to have any type .
             of atmosphere. .
             Mercury orbits the sun once every 88 days and has a true .
             rotation period of 58.6 days. " It is the closest planet to the .
             sun and therefore orbits faster than any other planet " .
             (Thompson/Turk, 542, 1993). It is said that Mercury rotates .
             three times for every two trips around the sun, so that during .
             Planets 3 .
             every alternate perihelon passage the same face points directly .
             at the sun. " Geologically, the most remarkable features of .
             Mercury are compressional cliffs or faults, just the sort of .
             wrinkles that might form in the crust if the interior of the .
             planet shrank slightly " (Morrison, 74, 1993). It is speculated .
             that it was the solidification of Mercury's metallic core that .
             caused this global shrinkage. Mercury is also " . . . enriched .
             in metal or depleted of rock " (Morrison, 74, 1993).


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