The Sun

The Sun is the center of the solar system. It has no circular motion in orbit and sits on an axis of 82°. It dispenses light, heat, and gives motion to all other planets. The Sun has a diameter of 800,000 miles and is therefore one million times larger than earth [1].

Mercury

At a distance of 32 millions of miles away, Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Mercury has a diameter of 2,460 miles which is 30 times smaller than Earth, and it takes 87 days, 23 hours, and 13 minutes to revolve around the sun. The length of day and variety of seasons on this planet is unknown to astronomers due to its closeness to the sun and the unknown inclination of its axis at the time[2].

“The Year, to the Inhabitants of this Planet (for it is the Opinion of the Learned, that the several Planets are so many Worlds, furnish’d with Beings of different Kinds as our Earth is,) is scarcely equal to one Quarter of Ours: But as they are almost three Times nearer the Sun than we are, his Face must consequently appear three Times bigger; and his Light and Heat almost nine Times greater than with Us. This Degree of Heat would continually keep our Waters boiling, and render it impossible for Us to live; but the Bodies of Animals and Vegetables there, are, no doubt, properly temper’d to sustain it. They, as well as their Planet, may be constructed more dense, firm, and compact than we are here; and may require that very Degree of Heat to support in Life, which would destroy Beings of our softer Texture, and consume them away” [3].

Venus

Venus is known as the “glittering planet” and is located 59 millions of miles from the Sun. She turns on her axis in 23 hours and has a revolution of 224 days, 16 hours, and 49 minutes. This planet is nearly equal in size to the Earth with a diameter of 7,906 miles. Venus can only be seen 3-4 hours in the morning and evening according to her placement with the Sun and is nicknamed the Morning Star when on the west and the Evening Star when on the East [4].

“To the Inhabitants of this Planet, the Sun will appear almost twice as big as she does to us: His Face, and consequently his Light and Heat, must be almost four Times greater. The Year in that Planet is about two-thirds of our Year, and the Length of the Day 23 hours” [5].

Earth

The next planet in the solar system is Earth, which is located 81 millions of miles from the Sun and has a diameter of 7,964 miles. It has an axis of 23.5° and makes a complete rotation in 24 hours. Earth revolves around the Sun in 365 days, 5 hours, and 49 minutes, which creates the four seasons. The Earth is surrounded with a thin vaporous air called atmosphere that reaches a height of about 46-47 miles. It suspends the clouds, gives the planet winds and rains, and serves for breathing. The atmosphere also causes the morning and evening twilight and all the brightness and glory of the sky [6].

“If the Earth was view’d from the Sun, as she revolves in her Orbit, she would seem to pass [as a small star] through the Heavens, describing a Circle among the fixed Stars. Which Circle Astronomers have divided into twelve equal Parts, corresponding to the twelve Months of the Year; and have suppos’d each Part cover’d with an Image depicted there” [7].

Mars

Mars is 123 millions of miles from the Sun and has a revolution of 1 year, 321 days, 23 hours, and 27 minutes. The diameter of this planet is 4,440 miles (6 times smaller than Earth), and has a rotation of 24 hours and 40 minutes [8].

“As the Rotation of a Planet upon its Axis makes its Day, and the Revolution round the Orbit its Year; so the Revolution of a Moon about a Planet makes its Month: Consequently, if a Planet has no Moon surrounding it, it can have no Month, but only Days and Years” [9].

The year is almost twice as long as Earth’s and the day is 40 minutes longer. It is believed that Mars gets its red colour from the thickness of its atmosphere or the nature of the soil [10].

Jupiter

This planet is located 424 millions of miles from the Sun and has a revolution of 11 years, 314 days, and 12 hours. Its rotation is completed in 9 hours and 56 minutes, and it has a diameter of 81,000 miles which is 1,000 times bigger than Earth. Jupiter’s year is almost 12 of Earth’s and has four kinds of months due to the planet’s four moons with the days and nights being about five hours each. Jupiter is a unique planet because of its “belts” surrounding the body parallel to its equator [11].

“By observing these Eclipses of Jupiter’s Satellites, it is found that Light is not instantly convey’d to us, but takes up to 7 or 8 Minutes to travel from the Sun hither [Earth], which is about 81 Millions of Miles. And this vast Space Light passes through in so small a Time, that the Velocity of its Motion cannot be easily conceiv’d by us" [12].

Saturn

According to the knowledge of 18th century astronomers, Saturn is the last planet in the solar system. According to Turner, it is the "highest" planet and the "most remote" at 777 millions of miles away from the Sun. Its revolution is 29 years, 174 days, and 6 hours and has a diameter of 67,860 miles, making it 600 times larger than Earth. Saturn has a full, round face, a dull lead-colour, and a ring that encompasses every side. This ring doesn’t touch the body of the planet, so the heavens can be seen between the body and ring. It has a breadth of 21,000 miles and is 700-800 miles thick. The inhabitants of Saturn get their light and heat from the planet’s ring, and their year is 30 times the length of Earth’s [13].