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What Gases Make Up the Planets in the Solar System?

For many years it was believed that our solar system was comprised of the sun, nine planets and numerous moons. It has now been discovered that the ninth planet, Pluto, is one of thousands of icy, little worlds that orbit in a path called the Kupier Belt. Pluto, along with its frigid neighbors, is classified as a dwarf planet. This means the solar system consists of the sun, eight planets, numerous moons, and thousands of dwarf planets.

Sun
- The protons in the sun's gases are constantly active.
  
  The sun is a massive sphere of hydrogen and helium, the two lightest elements in the universe. The intense heat at the center of the sun creates nuclear fusion between the protons of hydrogen atoms. This nuclear reaction results in the creation of helium, and produces the energy that fuels the sun.
Terrestrial Planets
- Mars has a higher iron content than other terrestrial planets.
  
  Mercury, Venus and Mars are called terrestrial planets because they are made up of solid substances. All have cores of molten iron. Mercury has a rocky crust with no atmosphere. The surface of Venus is a vast desert with a scorching carbon monoxide atmosphere, shrouded in clouds of sulfuric acid that hold in the heat. Mars has polar ice caps and a surface rich in iron that has oxidized into rust.
Earth
- Earth is the only planet known to support life.
  
  Earth is also a terrestrial planet. Its core is molten nickle and iron. It has rocky crust, 70% of which is covered in water. Most of the water remains in liquid form. Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen and oxygen, and is shaded by water vapor clouds.
Jupiter and Saturn
- Saturn has the most impressive rings of all the planets.
  
  Like the sun, Jupiter and Saturn are made up of hydrogen and helium. With a diameter of over 88,000 miles, Jupiter is by far the largest planet. While the surface of Jupiter is gas, its massive size compresses the hydrogen deeper down into a liquid metal. Its surface is speckled in clouds of ammonia. Saturn is much less dense and is wreathed with dramatic rings of orbiting water ice.
Uranus and Neptune
- Neptune is a brighter blue than Uranus.
  
  Uranus and Neptune have large cores of rock and frozen water. Surrounding these cores are layers of hydrogen, helium and methane. The methane absorbs red light and gives both of these planets a bluish-green hue.

Astronomy