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^ The ratio between the mass of the object and those in its immediate neighborhood. Used to distinguish between a planet and a dwarf planet. Used to distinguish between a planet and a dwarf planet. ^ This object's rotation is synchronous with its orbital period, meaning that it only ever shows one face to its primary.
For example, if a TNO is incorrectly assumed to have a mass of 3.59 × 10 20 kg based on a radius of 350 km with a density of 2 g/cm 3 but is later discovered to have a radius of only 175 km with a density of 0.5 g/cm 3, its true mass would be only 1.12 × 10 19 kg.
From the value of the diurnal parallax, one can determine the distance to the Sun from the geometry of Earth. [6] [7] The first known estimate of the solar mass was by Isaac Newton. [8] In his work Principia (1687), he estimated that the ratio of the mass of Earth to the Sun was about 1 ⁄ 28 700. Later he determined that his value was based ...
The choice of solar mass, M ☉, as the basic unit for planetary mass comes directly from the calculations used to determine planetary mass.In the most precise case, that of the Earth itself, the mass is known in terms of solar masses to twelve significant figures: the same mass, in terms of kilograms or other Earth-based units, is only known to five significant figures, which is less than a ...
The examination of Saturn's gravitational moment, in combination with physical models of the interior, has allowed constraints to be placed on the mass of Saturn's core. In 2004, scientists estimated that the core must be 9–22 times the mass of Earth, [44] [45] which corresponds to a diameter of about 25,000 km (16,000 mi). [46]
The four outer planets, called giant planets or Jovian planets, collectively make up 99% of the mass orbiting the Sun. [h] All four giant planets have multiple moons and a ring system, although only Saturn's rings are easily observed from Earth. [91] Jupiter and Saturn are composed mainly of gases with extremely low melting points, such as ...
NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which explored Saturn and its icy moons, including the majestic Titan, ended its mission with a death plunge into the giant ringed planet in 2017.
Proposed neologism for a massive terrestrial exoplanet that is at least ten times the mass of Earth: Kepler-10c: Super-Earth: An extrasolar planet with a mass higher than Earth's, but substantially below the mass of the Solar System's smaller gas giants Uranus and Neptune, which are 14.5 and 17.1 Earth masses respectively. Kepler-10b: Sub-Earth