Jupiter (Brihaspati)Jupiter is the largest planet of the solar system. It is so large that about 1300 earths can be placed inside this giant planet. However, the mass of Jupiter is about 318 times that of our Earth. It rotates very rapidly on its axis. Jupiter has a large number of satellites. It also has …
MangalyaanIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched India’s first Mars orbiter mission – Mangalyaan, on November 5, 2013. It was successfullyplaced into an orbit of Mars on September 24, 2014. With this India became the first country in the world to do so in its first attempt.
Mars (Mangal)The next planet, the first outside the orbit of the Earth is Mars. It appears slightly reddish and, therefore, it is also called the red planet. Mars has two small natural satellites .
The Earth (Prithvi) The Earth is the only planet in the solar system on which life is known to exist. Some special environmental conditions are responsible for the existence and continuation of life on the Earth. These include just the right distance from the Sun, so that it has the right temperature range, the presence …
Sometimes Venus appears in the eastern sky before sunrise. Sometimes it appears in the western sky just after sunset. Therefore it is often called a morning or an evening star,
Venus (Shukra)Venus is earth’s nearest planetary neighbour. It is the brightest planet in the night sky. Sometimes Venus appears in the eastern sky before sunrise. Sometimes it appears in the western sky just after sunset. Therefore it is often called a morning or an evening star, although it is not a star. Try to locate …
Mercury (Budh)The planet mercury is nearest to the Sun. It is the smallest planet of our solar system. Because Mercury is very close to the Sun, it is very difficult to observe it, as most of the time it is hidden in the glare of the Sun.However, it can be observed just before sunrise or …
Astronomy in Ancient IndiaThe practice of astronomy in ancient India is mentioned in Rig Veda which was composed about 4000 years ago.Many Indian scholars have contributed to astronomy. One of the most well known astronomers is Aryabhata. The work of Aryabhata on astronomy can be found in his writing ‘Aryabhatiya’. He wrote it in 499 …
There are many man-made satellites revolving round the Earth. These are called artificial satellites.
Besides revolving around the Sun, a planet also rotates on its own axis like a top . The time taken by a planet to complete one rotation is calledits period of rotation.
