Abstract
This paper explains that Jupiter, which has a mass of 1.900e27 kg., has more than twice the mass of all the other planets' masses combined and is over 300 times the mass of the Earth. The author points out that, when observing from Earth, Jupiter can best be seen when it is near its solar opposition, which is where Jupiter and the Earth are both aligned on the same side of the sun; Jupiter rises at Earth's sunset and sets at Earth's sunrise thereby being visible all during the night hours. The paper relates that the first space probe to Jupiter was Pioneer 10 in 1973, followed by Pioneer 11, Voyager 1, Voyager 2 and Ulysses; the spacecraft Galileo is currently orbiting, sending data for at least two more years as it continues to orbit Jupiter.

From the Paper
"Jupiter has a dynamic weather system, indicated by the colorful bands at the latitudes, and the atmospheric clouds and storms. The pattern of the clouds can change within days or hours. The Great Red Spot, which is a complex storm system, moves in a counter-clockwise direction. Found throughout the clouds, with their banded appearance, are smaller storms and eddies. In the storm's center, and near the center, random motions are detected in small amounts, but motions appear to rotate in four to six days near the outer edges."

Tags:bands, moons, density, atmosphere

Abstract
This paper examines why Earth is the only planet in our solar system capable of sustaining life and how it is the only planet that has plentiful liquid water and an atmosphere that can protect the planet from the harmful ultra-violet rays of the Sun. The paper attempts to determine what makes Earth so special by using comparative planetology to understand what makes Earth a habitat for life and what makes it so different from the other planets in our solar system.

Outline:
Terrestrial Planets
Jovian Planets
Conclusion

From the Paper
"If we were to look at Earth as a starting point to compare the other eight planets in our solar system, the first thing we notice from space is the magnificent blue color and swirls of clouds. This is an inviting sight and is the first hint at why life is found on our planet. Earth has many features that the other planets do not have. Earth has many features that make it unique. Earth is made of rock and metal. It is one of the four terrestrial planets and has the largest Moon in the solar system. Earth has abundant volcanic activity because of its size in comparison to the other terrestrial planets. With the abundance of water and oxygen, Earth's atmosphere stays in balance and is able to continue supporting life. The liquid oceans help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the presence of a stratosphere helps protect the surface from the deadly ultra-violet rays of the Sun. Another unique feature of Earth is plate tectonics. Plate tectonics acts as giant conveyor belt that moves the mantle of Earth around, which constantly changes the look of our planet. Although Earth's interior needs much more exploration, scientists can tell about the composition of the deepest regions of Earth by using seismic waves following an earthquake. By reading this seismic data carefully, scientists get a better understanding of interior Earth."

Tags:jupiter, sun, moon, jovian

Abstract
This paper examines three planets namely Venus, Saturn and Jupiter and provides some factual information about them and their motion relative to earth. For each planet in turn, it provides information on the history of its name, examines its atmosphere and composition, missions to the particular planet as well as providing a comparison of the chemical and physical makeup of the planets with Earth.

From the Paper
"It takes Saturn 29.5 years to complete one revolution around the Sun. As it circles the Sun, the angle of the Saturn's rings relative to the Sun varies by 27.3 degrees. During this motion a very peculiar phenomenon is observed. Twice during the 29.5 years, the rings are edge-on to the Sun. Since, as seen from Saturn, the Earth appears not more then 6 degrees from the Sun, it too crosses the ring plane at around the same time. Since Saturn's rings are so thin, when they are edge-on to the Earth, they appear to disappear when viewed with a small telescope."

Tags:atmosphere, earth, magnetosphere, missions, moons

Abstract
This paper compares eight planets in the solar system -- Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto-- to the planet Earth in terms of structure, atmosphere, chemical composition, and possibility of life at some time.

From the Paper
"The Earth is the third planet and the most massive of the inner planets. (Encrenaz, Bibring and Blanc) Its average density differs from that of the silicates that form most of the superficial rock surface. Seismic measurements and natural volcanic eruptions indicate that the internal structure consists of several distinct layers, a central core with a radius surrounded by a mantle and then a thin crust. There is a discontinuity between the crust lithosphere and the mantle asthenosphere. The mantle is..."

Tags:planetary comparison, planets, Solar, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto, Earth

Abstract
This paper begins with a definition and description of the planets within our solar system and then goes on to discuss extra-solar planets and the ongoing search for them. The paper describes some of the technology and techniques employed in this search, a discovery of an extra-solar planet by scientists at the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland, and recent advances in locating extra-solar planetary objects.

From the Paper
"The word planet means "wanderer" in Greek. It derives from the fact that planets within our solar system seem generally to wander eastward about the so-called fixed stars across the zodiac constellations (Kolb). There is no clear consensus precisely defining what constitutes a planet, as distinguished from brown dwarfs, which are the material remnants of burned out ancient stars whose masses where too small to form white dwarfs or collapse completely, forming black holes in the manner that stars much larger than ten solar masses, or ten times the mass of our sun (Hawking)."

Tags:body, emits, light, energy, orbits, star, reflecting, size, mass, jupiter, mars, pluto, terrestrial

Abstract
This is a paper on planetary discovery. The author traces the short history of manned and unmanned trips to the moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter etc. All the Apollo journeys are discussed, along with Viking and Space Shuttle trips.

From the Paper
"Think of how exciting it must have been to live in the days when the telescope was first turned to the heavens. Every part of the sky offered a new surprise. The planets were transformed from speaks of light to globes with unique characteristics. Could there be a more thrilling time of planetary discovery than those days of Galileo and the first telescopes? Yes, we live in such a time. How could the glimpses those early telescopes gave compare in richness to the dozens upon dozens of photographs and storehouses full of other data collected in the past few decades? Thanks to the spacecraft, we have finally started to know the planets as real places, both like and unlike Earth."

Tags:telescope, apollo, viking

Abstract
This paper focuses on the history and the discovery of the ninth planet in the Solar System, Pluto, and its lone moon, Charon. The paper discusses various theories about what originally propelled astronomers to search for this mysterious planet, known as Planet X, and how its name Pluto finally came about after its discovery.

From the Paper
"John Murray, an astronomer from Open University in the U.K. proposes a theory in which two large objects may gravitationally affect the orbits of long period comets. These two objects would have to be about 32,000 AU from the Sun and extremely massive, about the size of Jupiter. John J. Matese of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette proposes a similar theory. His involves two to three Jupiter sized objects orbiting at about 2.3 trillion miles from the Sun. He says that their gravity is responsible for the deflection of roughly 25% of the known 82 Oort Cloud comets into the inner solar system. Matese says that these massive objects do not necessarily have to be planets; they may be undetected brown dwarfs undetected because the IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) of the 1980s was not sensitive enough to distinguish an individual brown dwarf against the galactic plane."

Tags:astronomy, hershel, outer, physics, space, Camille, Flammarian

Abstract
This paper discusses how the Earth compared to the sun, its moon, and the nine planets in its solar system is extremely unique. Not only does it have unique surface features, but its weather, atmosphere, and size is original when compared to other bodies in space. Then, through an examination of the different properties of the other celestial bodies, the paper also attempts to show how the Earth has similarities to the nine planets when describing how the planets and their atmospheres were formed.

From the Paper
"The Earth is the third planet from the Sun being about 93 million miles from the Sun and in one planetary year circles the Sun 365 days of 24 hours each. Its diameter is 7,926 miles and has one moon. Earth is the densest planet in our solar system. It has an iron core, a mantle, and crust with an atmosphere made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. The temperature of Earth ranges from -127 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in Antarctica, to 136 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in Africa. The surface features of Earth consist of mountains, faults, volcanoes, cliffs, oceans, rivers, and ice caps. The hydrosphere is the water on or near the Earth's surface. The Earth is unique among the planets because 70% of its surface is covered by oceans. The main difference between Earth and other planets is its ability to support life. Vegetation and organisms are prominent all over the globe. This is possible because of the climate, atmosphere, and general living conditions. "

Tags:mercury, venus, pluto, jupiter

Abstract
This paper examines the nine planets of our solar system, beginning with Earth, and detailing their characteristics. Forces that change the earth's surface--volcanism, tectonics, erosion, and weathering--are described.

From the Paper
"Our solar system provides an excellent basis for comparative planetology, with nine unique planets revolving around the Sun having various and sundry moons, asteroids and comets associated with them. They travel in the same plane, a dimension known as the ecliptic, which is tilted degrees from the plane of the Sun's equator. Among all the heavenly bodies found in the solar system, the planets are truly the superstars and the Earth is one of the most interesting. Like Mercury, Venus and Mars, Earth..."

Tags:planets, planetology, volcanism, tectonics, erosion, weathering, Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, Mercury

Abstract
This paper attempts to explain the nature of the solar system. Starting with the inner solar system, the paper explores the make-up of the sun, central to the system, followed by Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The paper then explores what is known as the outer system, beginning with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The paper then offers a three-point conclusion, beginning with the sun and then dividing into the outer and inner solar systems.

From the Paper
"Many theories have been formulated by scientists and scholars that help explain the nature and origin of the solar system, which gave birth to the planets in it, which includes the planet Earth. Among these formation theories, the most widely-accepted theory is the Nebular Theory of Solar System Formation. This theory states that the solar system was formed as a result of the collapse of an interstellar cloud, which eventually became the solar system and all the planets and elements within it. This space phenomenon happened 4.7 billion years ago, and as the interstellar cloud collapsed under the force of gravity, it rotates at a fast rate, eventually forming a ball of hot gas and dust, called the protosun."

Tags:planets, space, science, mercury, plato, venus, earth, mars, uranus, saturn, jupiter, neptune