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This image shows the relative
sizes of the solar system's four terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus,
Earth and Mars) and the dwarf planet Pluto. |
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This image shows the relative
sizes of the solar system's eight planets and dwarf planet Pluto. Note
the Jupiter and Saturn are not perfect circles, but are elongated due
to their gaseous composition and relatively fast rotation rates.
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This image shows the relative
sizes of the main objects in the solar system. Note that the Sun is
larger than all the other objects by a vast amount. Thus its makes
sense that the Sun is the only object in the solar system capable of
squashing its core to such a high density and temperature that nuclear
reactions can go on in its core, coverting hydrogen to helium and
releasing energy.
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This image illustrates that
although the Sun is the largest object in the solar system, it is
relatively small compared to certain types of stars. Red Giant and
Supergiant stars can be much larger than the Sun. They are undergoing a
brief phase of their evolution that ultimately leads to their deaths as
they evolved to become white dwarfs or Type II supernovae. In
comparison,
the size of white dwarf stars are similar to planets and neutron stars
have sizes typical of cities.
Star
|
Spectral Type
|
Stage of
Evolution
|
Surface
Temperature
|
Sun
|
G2
|
Main
Sequence
|
5,800 K
|
Sirius
A
|
A1
|
Main
Sequence
|
9,900
K
|
Pollux
|
K0
|
Red
Giant
|
4,900 K
|
Arcturus
|
K2
|
Red
Giant
|
4, 300 K
|
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This image illustrates that
although the Sun is the largest object in
the solar system, it is relatively small compared to certain types of
stars. The colors of the stars refect their temperatures. Hotter stars
emit radiation at mostly bluer wavelengths, thus they appear bluer to
our eyes.
Cooler stars emit radiation at mostly redder wavelengths, thus they
appear
redder to our eyes. Our eyes interpret equal amounts of radiation at
different wavelengths as white, thus stars that appear white are
intermediate
in temperature.
Star
|
Spectral Type
|
Stage of
Evolution
|
Surface
Temperature
|
Sun
|
G2
|
Main
Sequence
|
5,800 K
|
Rigel
|
B8
|
Supergiant
|
11,000
K
|
Aldebaran
|
K5
|
Red
Giant
|
4,000 K
|
Betelgeuse
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M2
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Supergiant
|
3,500 K
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Antares
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M1
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Supergiant
|
3,500 K
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