Difference Between Planets and Satellites

Introduction

A planet is any object that orbits a star large enough to be rounded by the force of the star's gravity but not so huge as to trigger a thermonuclear reaction. A satellite, on the other hand, is an object in space that revolves around a bigger object.

Planets

Definition:

The Merriam-Webster dictionary states that the term "planet" has its roots in the ancient Greek word planēt, which means "wanderer." According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), an organization of astronomers that assigns names to objects in our solar system, planets were first described as objects that moved in the night sky about a fixed star background. Astronomers in Prague for the IAU General Conference didn't come to a definitive definition of the term until 2006.

The Moon and the Sun of Earth were included in the Greek definition of planets, along with Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

Instead of being seen as a planet, Earth was believed to be the main object that all other celestial objects orbited. Aristarchus of Samos proposed the first known model in the third century BCE, which put the Earth revolving around the Sun as the center of the known cosmos, although it was not widely accepted. Nicolaus Copernicus resurrected the notion in the 16th century.

Types of Planets:

Terrestrial planets:

Rocky planets, another name for terrestrial planets, are compact, solid planets nearer the solar center. Planets on Earth have thin or non-existent atmospheres. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are a few examples.

Gas giants:

Large planets, mostly made of hydrogen and helium gasses, are known as gas giants. Their atmospheres are dense, and gas giants need to have clearly defined solid surfaces. Gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn are examples of this.

Ice Giants

Despite having a substantial quantity of water, ammonia, and methane ice in their composition, ice giants resemble gas giants. Neptune and Uranus are categorized as ice giants.

Super-Earths:

Exoplanets larger and more massive than Earth are called super-Earths. However, gas giants are smaller. They feature a mix of ice and rock or are primarily rocky.

Mini Neptune:

Mini-Neptune are exoplanets that resemble Neptune in size but have a lower mass. Their atmosphere is dense, and their rocky or icy core is surrounded by an atmosphere made of hydrogen and helium.

Hot Jupiters:

Gas giant exoplanets are known as hot Jupiters. The extreme proximity of hot Jupiters to their host stars results in extremely high temperatures. They frequently experience harsh weather. Their closeness to the star is the cause of this.

Satellites

Definition:

Any celestial body that orbits a planet, star, or moon is considered a satellite. An orbit is a regular, repeated path that a single object in space follows around another. Earth orbits the Sun, so it is a satellite! The Moon likewise orbits the Earth. However, a "satellite" is typically a device that is launched into space and orbits Earth or another celestial body.

Anything that revolves around a planet or star is a satellite. The Earth is a satellite in the Sun's orbit, and the Moon is also a satellite. A spacecraft launched into Earth's orbit is also a satellite. This type of satellite can help us learn more about the Earth and the universe.

The Moon and the Earth are examples of natural satellites. Earth is orbited by thousands of artificial or man-made satellites. Some people take images of the earth to aid meteorologists in weather forecasting and storm tracking. Some capture images of distant galaxies, black holes, the Sun, and other planets. Thanks to these images, scientists can now comprehend the solar system and the universe more fully.

Additional satellites are utilized for global communications, including TV transmissions and telephone conversations. Have you ever used your phone's map app to try and locate your home or nearest ice cream parlor? With GPS, satellites enable us to achieve this! The GPS, or Global Positioning System, consists of a constellation of more than 20 satellites. These satellites can assist in pinpointing your precise Planets.

Comparison Table of Planets and Satellite

Conclusion:

The sun occupies around 99 percent of the Solar System's total volume. The sun is formed completely of hydrogen and helium, and nuclear reactions in its core produce a significant amount of heat. The eight planets orbit the sun, applying gravitational pull on all objects in their orbits. Throughout their lives, natural satellites orbit these planets; some of them serve as light sources. Due of the planets' ever changing revolutionary angles, there is a danger of collision along their orbital route.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the number of planets in our solar system?
   The Sun is the center of our solar system, surrounded by eight planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) and an endless number of smaller objects like asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets (like Pluto). Exoplanets are another name for the dwarf planets.
2. Which kinds of satellites are there, and Give an example?
   Satellites come in two varieties: natural and artificial. Natural satellites include the Moon and Earth. The International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope are two instances of man-made satellites.