What are the 12 planets

General
1

what are the 12 planets

2

What are the 12 planets?

Answer:

The concept of “12 planets” is likely a misunderstanding or a reference to a historical context where astronomers and scientists debated the classification of celestial bodies in our solar system. As of now, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially recognizes 8 planets in our solar system. These are:

  1. Mercury
  2. Venus
  3. Earth
  4. Mars
  5. Jupiter
  6. Saturn
  7. Uranus
  8. Neptune

Dwarf Planets

However, there are also dwarf planets which might be the reason for the confusion. The IAU recognizes five official dwarf planets:

  1. Pluto – Once considered the ninth planet, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
  2. Eris – Discovered in 2005, Eris is one of the most massive known dwarf planets in the solar system.
  3. Haumea – Known for its elongated shape due to its rapid rotation.
  4. Makemake – A dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt.
  5. Ceres – Located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Ceres was the first dwarf planet to be visited by a spacecraft.

Other Potential Dwarf Planets

There are other celestial bodies that are considered potential dwarf planets but have not been officially classified as such by the IAU. Some of these include:

  1. Sedna
  2. Quaoar
  3. Orcus
  4. 2002 MS4
  5. Salacia

Summary

To summarize, the 8 planets in our solar system are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Additionally, there are 5 officially recognized dwarf planets: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres. The idea of “12 planets” might be a mix of the 8 recognized planets plus some of the dwarf planets or potential dwarf planets.

Understanding the classification of celestial bodies is crucial in astronomy, and the definitions can evolve as new discoveries are made and as our understanding of the solar system improves.