superior planet Comparison Table

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superior planet comparison table

Subject has rotation period at equator has has albedo has equatorial diameter has inclination to the ecliptic has has surface temperature has surface temperature has orbital period has has mean orbital velocity has polar radiu has inclination is an instance of has radius (1974) 3394 km has rotation period has mean density has eccentricity has has synodic period has albedo has oblateness has radiu has been observ has obliquity has synodic period has central density has temperature has mean orbital velocity has sidereal period has magnetic axis inclination has mean density 1.33 g cm^{-3< sup>} has distance from Sun has atmospheric pressure has mean distance from Sun has atmosphere composition has orbital velocity has surface gravity has mass 6.45 × 10^{26< sup> g (0.11 M_Earth)} has discoverer has satelite has magnetic axis offset has composition has rotational period has magnetic field has core composition has number of satellite has semi-major axi has satellite has material has apparent magnitude has mass has equatorial radiu has maximum brightness has perhelion date has maximum apparent brightness has mean distance from sun has motion relative to star has has orbital period has rotation period at pole has synonym has definition has discovery date has escape velocity has central temperature

Jupiter 0.51 120 K 13.06 km s^-1 6.7 × 10⁹ cm i = 1°18'18" naked eye planet e = 0.048 398.9 days 0.065 (from Pioneer 10) for many centuries 3°.1 35 megabar 15° to the rotational axis (data from Pioneer 10) primarily H₂ (85%) and He (14%), with traces of methane, ammonia 2.7 that of Earth 0.1 Jupiter radius from the center of the planet (data from Pioneer 10) Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds 9^h50^m at equator; 9^h55^m at polar regions (see Systems I and II longitude). 4 gauss (data from Pioneer 10) metallic hydrogen in a pressure-ionized liquid phase 5.203 AU brighter than 5 1.90 × 10³⁰ g = 318 M_Earth 7.135 × 10⁹ cm = 11 R_Earth epicycloidal 11.86 years Jovian planet Fifth planet from the Sun. It is more massive than all other planets and satellites combined; if it were about 80 times more massive, it would become self-luminous due to fusion reactions. The heat flux to from the center to the surface is mainly convective. For both Jupiter and Saturn it is necessary to invoke a substantial source of internal heating (presumably gravitational contraction) to account for the surface temperature (Jupiter radiates about 2 1/2 times as much heat as it receives from the Sun). Jupiter's surface shows pronounced horizontal striations: the light layers (zones) are at a slightly higher altitude and about 15° cooler than the dark layers (belts). It is surrounded by a partial torus of atomic H in the orbit of Io. Thirteen satellites, the four outermost of which have retrograde motion, high eccentricity, and high inclination. (Jupiter XIII, discovered in 1974, has a period of 239 days; i = 26°.7, e = 0.147.) V_esc = 61 km s^-1 5 × 10⁴ K

Mars 248 K i = 1°.85 superior planet -has source: Hopkins, J. 1976 Glossary of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago Press 4.0 g cm^-3 e = 0.0934 0.16 0.0092 for many centuries 23°59' 779.9 days 24.2 km s^-1 687 days 3.5 millibars (data from mariner 7) more than 90% CO₂, traces of O₂, CO, H₂O. 0.38 that of Earth mostly made of heavier non-volatile elements 24^h37^m22^s.6 liquid Ni - Fe 2 silicates, oxides, water brighter than 5 greater than Pluto's mass and less massive than ten times Jupiter's mass 1.5237 AU epicycloidal Fourth major planet out from the Sun. Its tiny satellites are locked in synchronous rotation with mars. 5.1 km s^-1

Neptune 164.8 years 1°.8 superior planet 15^h49^m30^s 1.7 g cm^-2 e = 0.009 0.62 0.02 24500 ± 500 km 28°.8 367.49 days 30.07 AU hydrogen and methane V_orb = 5.43 km s^-1 1.3 that of Earth Johann Galle and Louis d'Arrest Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds Triton and Nereid 1.03 × 10²⁹ g 7.6 mag Jovian planet Eighth major planet out from the Sun. Discovered in by following predictions calculated by Urbain Le Verrier. Similar predictions had been made earlier by John Couch Adams but were not followed up. 1846 V_esc = 25 km s^-1

Pluto 17°.17 248.43 years superior planet 6^d9^h17^m49^s 0.249 < 0.25 < 2900 km 366.7 days 50-60 K 39.44 AU V_orb 4.7 km s^-1 Clyde Tombaugh mostly made of heavier non-volatile elements silicates, oxides, water 6 × 10²⁶ g, 0.1 to 0.2 M_Earth 1989 The most distant known planet from the Sun. Its orbit has the highest eccentricity and highest inclination to the ecliptic of any planet and some astronomers suggest that it may be an escaped satellite of Neptune. In the mid-1970s Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit on its way in, and for the rest of this century Pluto will be closer to the Sun than Neptune (Pluto and Neptune, however, are never less than 2.6 AU apart). Its mass and radius have not been determined with any great certainty. 1930

Saturn 10^h14^m 116340 km i = 2°29'33" naked eye planet 0.7 g cm^-3 e = 0.056 0.50 0.1 for many centuries 26°44' 378 days T_eff ≈ 160 K 29.458 years 9.540 AU hydrogen and helium V_orb = 9.65 km s^-1 11 m s^-2 Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds 10 brighter than 5 5.7 × 10²⁹ g = 95.2 M_Earth epicycloidal 10^h38^m Jovian planet Sixth major planet out from the Sun. The most spectacular of the Solar System, it is circled by a series of concentric rings. All the satellites of Saturn are locked in synchronous rotation. V_esc = 33.1 km s^-1

Uranus 110 K 84.0 years i = 0°.8 superior planet 10^h49^m26^s 1.21 g cm^-3 e = 0.04 0.66 0.07 25400 km 97°.9 369.66 days 19.18 AU H₂ and CH₄ 6.8 km s^-1 0.96 Earth's Herschel 5 major ones, all of which orbit in its equatorial plane Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds 8.78 × 10²⁸ g +5.7 mag Jovian planet Seventh planet from the Sun. Has retrograde rotation. March 13, 1781 22 km s^-1

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Subject	has rotation period at equator	has has albedo	has equatorial diameter	has inclination to the ecliptic	has has surface temperature	has surface temperature	has orbital period	has has mean orbital velocity	has polar radiu	has inclination	is an instance of	has radius (1974) 3394 km	has rotation period	has mean density	has eccentricity	has has synodic period	has albedo	has oblateness	has radiu	has been observ	has obliquity	has synodic period	has central density	has temperature	has mean orbital velocity	has sidereal period	has magnetic axis inclination	has mean density 1.33 g cm^{-3< sup>}	has distance from Sun	has atmospheric pressure	has mean distance from Sun	has atmosphere composition	has orbital velocity	has surface gravity	has mass 6.45 × 10^{26< sup> g (0.11 M_Earth)}	has discoverer	has satelite	has magnetic axis offset	has composition	has rotational period	has magnetic field	has core composition	has number of satellite	has semi-major axi	has satellite	has material	has apparent magnitude	has mass	has equatorial radiu	has maximum brightness	has perhelion date	has maximum apparent brightness	has mean distance from sun	has motion relative to star	has has orbital period	has rotation period at pole	has synonym	has definition	has discovery date	has escape velocity	has central temperature
Jupiter		0.51			120 K			13.06 km s^-1	6.7 × 10⁹ cm	i = 1°18'18"	naked eye planet				e = 0.048	398.9 days		0.065 (from Pioneer 10)		for many centuries	3°.1		35 megabar				15° to the rotational axis (data from Pioneer 10)					primarily H₂ (85%) and He (14%), with traces of methane, ammonia		2.7 that of Earth				0.1 Jupiter radius from the center of the planet (data from Pioneer 10)	Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds	9^h50^m at equator; 9^h55^m at polar regions (see Systems I and II longitude).	4 gauss (data from Pioneer 10)	metallic hydrogen in a pressure-ionized liquid phase		5.203 AU			brighter than 5	1.90 × 10³⁰ g = 318 M_Earth	7.135 × 10⁹ cm = 11 R_Earth					epicycloidal	11.86 years		Jovian planet	Fifth planet from the Sun. It is more massive than all other planets and satellites combined; if it were about 80 times more massive, it would become self-luminous due to fusion reactions. The heat flux to from the center to the surface is mainly convective. For both Jupiter and Saturn it is necessary to invoke a substantial source of internal heating (presumably gravitational contraction) to account for the surface temperature (Jupiter radiates about 2 1/2 times as much heat as it receives from the Sun). Jupiter's surface shows pronounced horizontal striations: the light layers (zones) are at a slightly higher altitude and about 15° cooler than the dark layers (belts). It is surrounded by a partial torus of atomic H in the orbit of Io. Thirteen satellites, the four outermost of which have retrograde motion, high eccentricity, and high inclination. (Jupiter XIII, discovered in 1974, has a period of 239 days; i = 26°.7, e = 0.147.)		V_esc = 61 km s^-1	5 × 10⁴ K
Mars						248 K				i = 1°.85	superior planet	-has source: Hopkins, J. 1976 Glossary of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago Press		4.0 g cm^-3	e = 0.0934		0.16	0.0092		for many centuries	23°59'	779.9 days			24.2 km s^-1	687 days				3.5 millibars (data from mariner 7)		more than 90% CO₂, traces of O₂, CO, H₂O.		0.38 that of Earth					mostly made of heavier non-volatile elements	24^h37^m22^s.6		liquid Ni - Fe	2			silicates, oxides, water	brighter than 5	greater than Pluto's mass and less massive than ten times Jupiter's mass					1.5237 AU	epicycloidal				Fourth major planet out from the Sun. Its tiny satellites are locked in synchronous rotation with mars.		5.1 km s^-1
Neptune							164.8 years			1°.8	superior planet		15^h49^m30^s	1.7 g cm^-2	e = 0.009		0.62	0.02	24500 ± 500 km		28°.8	367.49 days									30.07 AU	hydrogen and methane	V_orb = 5.43 km s^-1	1.3 that of Earth		Johann Galle and Louis d'Arrest			Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds						Triton and Nereid			1.03 × 10²⁹ g				7.6 mag					Jovian planet	Eighth major planet out from the Sun. Discovered in by following predictions calculated by Urbain Le Verrier. Similar predictions had been made earlier by John Couch Adams but were not followed up.	1846	V_esc = 25 km s^-1
Pluto				17°.17			248.43 years				superior planet		6^d9^h17^m49^s		0.249		< 0.25		< 2900 km			366.7 days		50-60 K					39.44 AU				V_orb 4.7 km s^-1			Clyde Tombaugh			mostly made of heavier non-volatile elements							silicates, oxides, water		6 × 10²⁶ g, 0.1 to 0.2 M_Earth			1989							The most distant known planet from the Sun. Its orbit has the highest eccentricity and highest inclination to the ecliptic of any planet and some astronomers suggest that it may be an escaped satellite of Neptune. In the mid-1970s Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit on its way in, and for the rest of this century Pluto will be closer to the Sun than Neptune (Pluto and Neptune, however, are never less than 2.6 AU apart). Its mass and radius have not been determined with any great certainty.	1930
Saturn	10^h14^m		116340 km							i = 2°29'33"	naked eye planet			0.7 g cm^-3	e = 0.056		0.50	0.1		for many centuries	26°44'	378 days		T_eff ≈ 160 K		29.458 years					9.540 AU	hydrogen and helium	V_orb = 9.65 km s^-1	11 m s^-2					Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds				10				brighter than 5	5.7 × 10²⁹ g = 95.2 M_Earth						epicycloidal		10^h38^m	Jovian planet	Sixth major planet out from the Sun. The most spectacular of the Solar System, it is circled by a series of concentric rings. All the satellites of Saturn are locked in synchronous rotation.		V_esc = 33.1 km s^-1
Uranus						110 K	84.0 years			i = 0°.8	superior planet		10^h49^m26^s	1.21 g cm^-3	e = 0.04		0.66	0.07	25400 km		97°.9	369.66 days									19.18 AU	H₂ and CH₄	6.8 km s^-1	0.96 Earth's		Herschel	5 major ones, all of which orbit in its equatorial plane		Mostly made of various light elements such as gases and simple compounds									8.78 × 10²⁸ g		+5.7 mag							Jovian planet	Seventh planet from the Sun. Has retrograde rotation.	March 13, 1781	22 km s^-1