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    Astronomers believe some of these "exoplanets" may support alien life. By 1930, nine planets had been discovered: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. A planet must orbit the sun, be large enough so that its own gravity molds it into a spherical shape.

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    Astronomers believe some of these "exoplanets" may support alien life. By 1930, nine planets had been discovered: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. A planet must orbit the sun, be large enough so that its own gravity molds it into a spherical shape.

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    47 views3 pages

    What Is A Planet

    Uploaded by

    api-296850375
    Astronomers believe some of these "exoplanets" may support alien life. By 1930, nine planets had been discovered: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. A planet must orbit the sun, be large enough so that its own gravity molds it into a spherical shape.

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    of 3

    5/8/2016

    WhatisaPlanet?

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    WHAT IS A PLANET?

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    FAROUTFACTS
    Oursolarsystemseightplanetscomeintwoflavors:smaller
    rockyplanetswithsolidground(Mercury,Venus,Earthand
    Mars)andlargergasgiants(Jupiter,Saturn,Uranusand
    Neptune).
    Youcanspotsixofthesolarsystemsplanetswiththenaked
    eyefromEarthandalleightifyouhavebinocularsora
    telescope.
    Astronomershavediscoveredhundredsofworldsbeyondour
    solarsystemandarespottingmoreeveryday.Scientists
    believesomeoftheseexoplanetsmaysupportalienlife.Who
    knows.Maybeanalienkidelsewhereinthegalaxyis
    wonderingifyouexist.

    Butwhatexactlyisaplanet?Itseemslikeaneasyquestion.
    Afterall,yourestandingononerightnow!Butthescientific
    definitionwasfairlylooseuntilrecently.Thediscoveryofother

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    WhatisaPlanet?

    ThousandsofyearsbeforetheinventionoftheInternetor
    SuperMarioKart,peopleentertainedthemselvesbypeering
    intothenightskyandconnectingthestarstocreatepictures
    calledconstellationsofanimals,objects,andlegendary
    heroes.Buttheseancientstargazersnoticedthatsomestars
    didntcooperatewiththeconstellations.Theseoddballballsof
    lightfollowedtheirownpathsacrossthenightsky,sothe
    ancientGreekscalledthemplanetes,meaningwanderers.By
    1930,nineplanetshadbeendiscovered:Mercury,Venus,
    Earth,Mars,Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune,andPluto.

    solarsystemwanderersrivalingPlutoinsizesuddenlyhad
    scientistsaskingwhatwasntaplanet.Theyputtheirheads
    togetherin2006andcameupwiththreeconditionsfor
    planethood:Aplanetmustorbitthesun,belargeenoughso
    thatitsowngravitymoldsitintoasphericalshape,anditmust
    haveanorbitfreeofothersmallobjects.Unfortunatelyfor
    Pluto,ouronetimeninthplanetfailedtomeetthethird
    condition.Itwasdowngradedtoadwarfplanet,a
    classificationofsolarsystemobjectsyoucanreadabouthere.

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