The Table of Planets
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Per the geophysical definition, an object is a planet if:
1) it has never achieved nuclear fusion (substellar)
2) it is rounded by its own gravity (shape is spheroidal and regular)
According to this definition, Pluto, some asteroids, and the Earth's moon (AKA Luna) are planets, as are many other objects. For objects in the Kuiper belt and beyond, this chart features the most likely planet candidates and is subject to change. Objects that were formerly round and have since been deformed by impacts are included here as remnant planets and are marked with an asterisk. Scroll down for a glossary and image credits.
1
M
Mercury
Closest planet to the Sun.
Type:
Terrestrial
Family:
Inner Planets
Mean Diameter:
4,879 km
Mass:
3.30E23 kg
Mean Density:
5.43 g/cm
Surface Gravity:
3.7 m/s²
Orbital Period:
87.9691 d
Rotational Period:
1,407.5 h
Axial Tilt:
0.034°
Perihelion:
4.60E7 km
Aphelion:
6.98E7 km
Eccentricity:
0.205630
(more info)
2
V
Venus
Days longer than years.
Type:
Terrestrial
Family:
Inner Planets
Mean Diameter:
12,104 km
Mass:
4.87E24 kg
Mean Density:
5.243 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
8.87 m/s²
Orbital Period:
224.701 d
Rotational Period:
243.025 d
Axial Tilt:
177.36°
Perihelion:
1.07E8 km
Aphelion:
1.09E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.006772
(more info)
3
E
Earth
Mostly harmless.
Type:
Terrestrial
Family:
Inner Planets
Mean Diameter:
12,742 km
Mass:
5.97E24 kg
Mean Density:
5.541 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
9.807 m/s²
Orbital Period:
365.256 d
Rotational Period:
1 d
Axial Tilt:
23.439°
Perihelion:
1.47E8 km
Aphelion:
1.52E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.0167086
(more info)
3.1
Lu
Luna
We've been here before.
Type:
Terrestrial
Family:
Inner Planets
Mean Diameter:
3,474 km
Mass:
7.34E22 kg
Mean Density:
3.344 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
1.62 m/s²
Orbital Period:
27.322 d
Rotational Period:
27.322 d
Axial Tilt:
6.687°
Perigee:
3.63E5 km
Apogee:
4.05E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0549
(more info)
4
A
Mars
Orange skies, blue sunsets.
Type:
Terrestrial
Family:
Inner Planets
Mean Diameter:
6,779 km
Mass:
6.42E23 kg
Mean Density:
3.934 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
3.721 m/s²
Orbital Period:
686.971 d
Rotational Period:
1.026 d
Axial Tilt:
25.19°
Perihelion:
2.07E8 km
Aphelion:
2.49E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.0934
(more info)
5
Ve*
Vesta
Eroded by titanic impacts.
Type:
Asteroidal Remnant
Family:
Asteroids
Mean Diameter:
525 km
Mass:
2.59E20 kg
Mean Density:
3.456 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.25 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1,325.75 d
Rotational Period:
0.2226 d
Axial Tilt:
29°
Perihelion:
3.22E8 km
Aphelion:
3.85E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.08874
(more info)
6
Ce
Ceres
Has bright spots of salt.
Type:
Asteroidal
Family:
Asteroids
Mean Diameter:
939 km
Mass:
9.38E20 kg
Mean Density:
2.162 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.28 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1,683.146 d
Rotational Period:
0.378 d
Axial Tilt:
4°
Perihelion:
3.82E8 km
Aphelion:
4.46E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.076009
(more info)
7
Pa*
Pallas
More battered than Vesta.
Type:
Asteroidal Remnant
Family:
Asteroids
Mean Diameter:
513 km
Mass:
2.04E20 kg
Mean Density:
2.89 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.21 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1,687.411 d
Rotational Period:
0.326 d
Axial Tilt:
84°
Perihelion:
3.19E8 km
Aphelion:
5.10E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.229972
(more info)
8
In
Interamnia
Avoided giant impacts.
Type:
Asteroidal
Family:
Asteroids
Mean Diameter:
332 km
Mass:
3.79E19 kg
Mean Density:
1.98 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.092 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1,952.8 d
Rotational Period:
0.363 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
3.87E8 km
Aphelion:
5.28E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.15431
(more info)
9
Hy
Hygiea
Has a chaotic orbit.
Type:
Asteroidal
Family:
Asteroids
Mean Diameter:
434 km
Mass:
8.32E19 kg
Mean Density:
1.94 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.12 m/s²
Orbital Period:
2,033.8 d
Rotational Period:
0.576 d
Axial Tilt:
60°
Perihelion:
4.17E8 km
Aphelion:
5.23E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.1125
(more info)
10
J
Jupiter
The largest planet.
Type:
Gas Giant
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
139,822 km
Mass:
1.09E27 kg
Mean Density:
1.326 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
24.79 m/s²
Orbital Period:
4,332.59 d
Rotational Period:
0.414 d
Axial Tilt:
3.13°
Perihelion:
7.41E8 km
Aphelion:
8.17E8 km
Eccentricity:
0.0489
(more info)
10.1
Io
Io
Over 400 active volcanoes.
Type:
Terrestrial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
3,643 km
Mass:
8.93E22 kg
Mean Density:
3.528 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
1.796 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1.769 d
Rotational Period:
1.769 d
Axial Tilt:
0.05°
Perijove:
4.20E5 km
Apojove:
4.23E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0041
(more info)
10.2
Eu
Europa
Has a subsurface ocean.
Type:
Terrestrial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
3,122 km
Mass:
4.80E22 kg
Mean Density:
3.013 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
1.314 m/s²
Orbital Period:
3.551 d
Rotational Period:
3.551 d
Axial Tilt:
0.1°
Perijove:
6.65E5 km
Apojove:
6.77E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.009
(more info)
10.3
Ga
Ganymede
Larger ocean than Europa.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
5,268 km
Mass:
1.48E23 kg
Mean Density:
1.936 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
1.428 m/s²
Orbital Period:
7.155 d
Rotational Period:
7.155 d
Axial Tilt:
0 to 0.33° (varies)
Perijove:
1.07E6 km
Apojove:
1.07E6 km
Eccentricity:
0.0013
(more info)
10.4
Ca
Callisto
Heavily cratered.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
4,821km
Mass:
1.08E23 kg
Mean Density:
1.834 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
1.235 m/s²
Orbital Period:
16.689 d
Rotational Period:
16.689 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perijove:
1.87E6 km
Apojove:
1.90E6 km
Eccentricity:
0.0074
(more info)
11
S
Saturn
Less dense than water.
Type:
Gas Giant
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
116,464 km
Mass:
5.68E26 kg
Mean Density:
0.687 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
10.44 m/s²
Orbital Period:
10,759.22 d
Rotational Period:
0.440 d
Axial Tilt:
26.73°
Perihelion:
1.35E9 km
Aphelion:
1.51E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.0565
(more info)
11.1
Mi
Mimas
Has unexplained libration.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
396 km
Mass:
3.75E19 kg
Mean Density:
1.148 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.064 m/s²
Orbital Period:
0.942 d
Rotational Period:
0.942 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perichron:
1.81E5 km
Apochron:
1.89E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0196
(more info)
11.2
En
Enceladus
Has active cryovolcanoes.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
504 km
Mass:
1.08E20 kg
Mean Density:
1.609 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.113 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1.370 d
Rotational Period:
1.370 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perichron:
2.37E5 km
Apochron:
2.39E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0047
(more info)
11.3
Te
Tethys
Sandblasted by the E-ring.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,062 km
Mass:
6.17E20 kg
Mean Density:
0.984 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.146 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1.887 d
Rotational Period:
1.887 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perichron:
2.95E5 km
Apochron:
2.95E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0001
(more info)
11.4
Di
Dione
Riven by tectonic fractures.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,123 km
Mass:
1.10E21 kg
Mean Density:
1.478 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.232 m/s²
Orbital Period:
2.737 d
Rotational Period:
2.737 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perichron:
3.77E5 km
Apochron:
3.78E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0022
(more info)
11.5
Rh
Rhea
May have tenuous rings.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,528 km
Mass:
2.31E21 kg
Mean Density:
1.236 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.264 m/s²
Orbital Period:
4.518 d
Rotational Period:
4.518 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perichron:
5.27E5 km
Apochron:
5.28E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0012583
(more info)
11.6
Ti
Titan
Has hydrocarbon lakes.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
5,149 km
Mass:
1.35E23 kg
Mean Density:
1.880 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
1.352 m/s²
Orbital Period:
15.945 d
Rotational Period:
15.945 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perichron:
1.19E6 km
Apochron:
1.26E6 km
Eccentricity:
0.0288
(more info)
11.7
Ia
Iapetus
Colored by organic matter.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,469 km
Mass:
1.81E21 kg
Mean Density:
1.088 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.223 m/s²
Orbital Period:
79.322 d
Rotational Period:
79.322 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Perichron:
3.46E6 km
Apochron:
3.67E6 km
Eccentricity:
0.0276812
(more info)
11.8
Ph*
Phoebe
Formed in the Kuiper belt.
Type:
Glacial Remnant
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
213 km
Mass:
8.29E18 kg
Mean Density:
1.638 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.044 m/s²
Orbital Period:
550.564 d
Rotational Period:
550.564 d
Axial Tilt:
152.14°
Perichron:
1.08E7 km
Apochron:
1.51E7 km
Eccentricity:
0.1562415
(more info)
12
U
Uranus
Rotates on its side.
Type:
Ice Giant
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
50,724 km
Mass:
8.68E25 kg
Mean Density:
1.27 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
8.69 m/s²
Orbital Period:
30,688.5 d
Rotational Period:
0.718 d
Axial Tilt:
97.77°
Perihelion:
2.74E9 km
Aphelion:
3.01E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.046381
(more info)
12.1
Pu
Puck
Small, but spheroidal.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
162 km
Mass:
2.90E18 kg
Mean Density:
1.3 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.028 m/s²
Orbital Period:
0.762 d
Rotational Period:
0.762 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periuranion:
8.60E4 km
Apouranion:
8.60E4 km
Eccentricity:
0.00012
(more info)
12.2
Mr
Miranda
Has highest known cliffs.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
472 km
Mass:
6.40E19 kg
Mean Density:
1.20 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.079 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1.413 d
Rotational Period:
1.413 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periuranion:
1.30E5 km
Apouranion:
1.30E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0013
(more info)
12.3
Ar
Ariel
Covered in canyons.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,158 km
Mass:
1.25E21 kg
Mean Density:
1.592 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.269 m/s²
Orbital Period:
2.520 d
Rotational Period:
2.520 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periuranion:
1.91E5 km
Apouranion:
1.91E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0012
(more info)
12.4
Um
Umbriel
Polygonal tectonic features.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,169 km
Mass:
1.28E21 kg
Mean Density:
1.39 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.2 m/s²
Orbital Period:
4.144 d
Rotational Period:
4.144 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periuranion:
2.65E5 km
Apouranion:
2.68E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0039
(more info)
12.5
Ta
Titania
Scarps and smooth plains.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,577 km
Mass:
3.40E21 kg
Mean Density:
1.711 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.379 m/s²
Orbital Period:
8.706 d
Rotational Period:
8.706 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periuranion:
4.36E5 km
Apouranion:
4.37E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0011
(more info)
12.6
Ob
Oberon
Reddened by cosmic rays.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
1,523 km
Mass:
3.08E21 kg
Mean Density:
1.63 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.346 m/s²
Orbital Period:
13.463 d
Rotational Period:
13.463 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periuranion:
5.83E5 km
Apouranion:
5.84E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.0014
(more info)
13
N
Neptune
Fastest known wind speeds.
Type:
Ice Giant
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
49,244 km
Mass:
1.02E26 kg
Mean Density:
1.638 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
11.15 m/s²
Orbital Period:
60,182 d
Rotational Period:
0.671 d
Axial Tilt:
28.32°
Perihelion:
4.46E9 km
Aphelion:
4.54E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.0008678
(more info)
13.1
Pr*
Proteus
Flattened by impacts.
Type:
Glacial Remnant
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
420 km
Mass:
4.40E19kg
Mean Density:
1.3 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.07 m/s²
Orbital Period:
1.122 d
Rotational Period:
1.122 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periposeidion:
1.18E5 km
Apoposeidion:
1.18E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.00053
(more info)
13.2
Tr
Triton
Has nitrogen geysers.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Outer Planets
Mean Diameter:
2,707 km
Mass:
2.14E22kg
Mean Density:
2.061 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.779 m/s²
Orbital Period:
5.877 d
Rotational Period:
5.877 d
Axial Tilt:
0°
Periposeidion:
3.55E5 km
Apoposeidion:
3.55E5 km
Eccentricity:
0.000016
(more info)
14
Or
Orcus
Covered in crystalline ice.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Kuiper Belt
Mean Diameter:
917 km
Mass:
6.35E20kg
Mean Density:
1.53 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.20 m/s²
Orbital Period:
89,557 d
Rotational Period:
0.550 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
4.53E9 km
Aphelion:
7.19E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.22701
(more info)
15
Pl
Pluto
A heart of frozen nitrogen.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Kuiper Belt
Mean Diameter:
2,377 km
Mass:
1.30E22kg
Mean Density:
1.854 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.620 m/s²
Orbital Period:
90,560 d
Rotational Period:
6.387 d
Axial Tilt:
122.53°
Perihelion:
4.44E9 km
Aphelion:
7.38E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.2488
(more info)
15.1
Ch
Charon
A cap of Plutonian tholins.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Kuiper Belt
Mean Diameter:
1,212 km
Mass:
1.59E21kg
Mean Density:
1.702 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.288 m/s²
Orbital Period:
6.387 d
Rotational Period:
6.387 d
Axial Tilt:
122.53°
Perihadion:
1.96E4 km
Apohadion:
1.96E4 km
Eccentricity:
0.0002
(more info)
16
Sa
Salacia
Water ice scarce on surface.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Kuiper Belt
Mean Diameter:
846 km
Mass:
4.92E20kg
Mean Density:
1.5 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.18 m/s²
Orbital Period:
100,073 d
Rotational Period:
0.254 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
5.64E9 km
Aphelion:
6.98E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.10636
(more info)
17
Ha
Haumea
Has an elongated shape.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Kuiper Belt
Mean Diameter:
1,560 km
Mass:
4.01E21kg
Mean Density:
2.018 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.242 m/s²
Orbital Period:
103,410 d
Rotational Period:
0.163 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
5.18E9 km
Aphelion:
7.72E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.19642
(more info)
18
Qu
Quaoar
May have cryovolcanism.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Kuiper Belt
Mean Diameter:
1,110 km
Mass:
1.40E21kg
Mean Density:
1.99 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.29 m/s²
Orbital Period:
105,495 d
Rotational Period:
0.163 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
6.27E9 km
Aphelion:
6.81E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.04106
(more info)
19
Ma
Makemake
Covered in nitrogen ice.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Kuiper Belt
Mean Diameter:
1,430 km
Mass:
3.10E21kg
Mean Density:
2.1 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.57 m/s²
Orbital Period:
111,845 d
Rotational Period:
0.951 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
5.70E9 km
Aphelion:
7.89E9 km
Eccentricity:
0.16126
(more info)
20
Go
Gonggong
Surprisingly red in color.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Scattered Disk
Mean Diameter:
1,230 km
Mass:
1.75E21kg
Mean Density:
1.74 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.32 m/s²
Orbital Period:
202,484 d
Rotational Period:
0.933 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
5.05E9 km
Aphelion:
1.51E10 km
Eccentricity:
0.49943
(more info)
21
Er
Eris
White from frozen methane.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Scattered Disk
Mean Diameter:
2,326 km
Mass:
1.65E22kg
Mean Density:
2.43 g/cm³
Surface Gravity:
0.82 m/s²
Orbital Period:
204,199 d
Rotational Period:
1.079 d
Axial Tilt:
78°
Perihelion:
5.73E9 km
Aphelion:
1.46E10 km
Eccentricity:
0.43607
(more info)
22
Se
Sedna
Dark red from tholins.
Type:
Glacial
Family:
Detached Objects
Mean Diameter:
995 km
Mass:
unknown
Mean Density:
unknown
Surface Gravity:
unknown
Orbital Period:
4,160,000 d
Rotational Period:
0.4 d
Axial Tilt:
unknown
Perihelion:
1.14E10 km
Aphelion:
1.40E11 km
Eccentricity:
0.8496
(more info)

Inner
Planets


Asteroids

Outer
Planets
Kuiper
Belt
Objects
Scattered
Disk
Objects

Detached
Objects
1
M
Mercury
88 d
4,879 km
3.30E23 kg
5
Ve*
Vesta
1,326 d
525 km
2.59E20 kg
10
J
Jupiter
4,333 d
139,822 km
1.90E27 kg
10.1
Io
Io
1.8 d
3,643 km
8.93E22 kg
10.2
Eu
Europa
3.6 d
3,122 km
4.80E22 kg
10.3
Ga
Ganymede
7.2 d
5,268 km
1.48E23 kg
10.4
Ca
Callisto
17 d
4,821 km
1.08E23 kg
14
Or
Orcus
89,557 d
917 km
6.35E20 kg
20
Go
Gonggong
202,003 d
1,230 km
1.75E21 kg
22
Se
Sedna
4,160,000 d
995 km
unknown
2
V
Venus
225 d
12,104 km
4.87E24 kg
6
Ce
Ceres
1,683 d
939 km
9.38E20 kg
11
S
Saturn
10,759 d
116,464 km
5.68E26 kg
11.1
Mi
Mimas
0.9 d
396 km
3.75E19 kg
11.2
En
Enceladus
1.4 d
504 km
1.08E20 kg
11.3
Te
Tethys
1.9 d
1,062 km
6.17E20 kg
11.4
Di
Dione
2.7 d
1,123 km
1.10E21 kg
11.5
Rh
Rhea
4.5 d
1,528 km
2.31E21 kg
11.6
Ti
Titan
16 d
5,149 km
1.35E23 kg
11.7
Ia
Iapetus
79 d
1,469 km
1.81E21 kg
11.8
Ph*
Phoebe
551 d
213 km
8.29E18 kg
15
Pl
Pluto
90,560 d
2,377 km
1.30E22 kg
15.1
Ch
Charon
6.4 d
1,212 km
1.59E21 kg
21
Er
Eris
204,199 d
2,326 km
1.65E22 kg
3
E
Earth
365 d
12,742 km
5.97E24 kg
3.1
Lu
Luna
27 d
3,474 km
7.34E22 kg
7
Pa*
Pallas
1,687 d
513 km
2.04E20 kg
12
U
Uranus
30,689 d
50,724 km
8.68E25 kg
12.1
Pu
Puck
0.8 d
162 km
2.90E18 kg
12.2
Mr
Miranda
1.4 d
472 km
6.40E19 kg
12.3
Ar
Ariel
2.5 d
1,158 km
1.25E21 kg
12.4
Um
Umbriel
4.1 d
1,169 km
1.28E21 kg
12.5
Ta
Titania
8.7 d
1,577 km
3.40E21 kg
12.6
Ob
Oberon
13 d
1,523 km
3.08E21 kg
16
Sa
Salacia
100,073 d
846 km
4.92E20 kg
4
A
Mars
687 d
6,779 km
6.42E23 kg
8
In
Interamnia
1,953 d
332 km
3.79E19 kg
13
N
Neptune
60,182 d
49,244 km
1.02E26 kg
13.1
Pr*
Proteus
1.1 d
420 km
4.40E19 kg
13.2
Tr
Triton
5.9 d
2,707 km
2.14E22 kg
17
Ha
Haumea
103,647 d
1,560 km
4.01E21 kg
9
Hy
Hygiea
2,034 d
434 km
8.32E19 kg
18
Qu
Quaoar
105,495 d
1,110 km
1.40E21 kg
19
Ma
Makemake
111,845 d
1,430 km
3.10E21 kg
Glossary
Type: A category of planets based on their approximate composition (what the planet is made of).
Terrestrial: Made mostly of rock.
Asteroidal: Made mostly of rock and hydrated minerals (rocks with water trapped inside).
Glacial: Made mostly of rock and ice (includes frozen water, ammonia, nitrogen, etc.).
Gas Giant: Made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
Ice Giant: Made mostly of other gases and ice.
Family: The population of objects the planet is part of.
Inner Planets: The planets closest to the Sun. Not a formal population.
Asteroids: Objects in the asteroid belt, a loose region of rocky bodies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Outer Planets: The giant planets and their satellites (moons). Not a formal population.
Kuiper Belt Objects: Objects in the Kuiper belt, a loose region of icy bodies beyond Neptune (roughly 30 to 50 AU from the Sun).
Scattered Disk Objects: Distant objects scattered from the Kuiper belt by the giant planets' gravity, now forming a loose belt.
Detached Objects: Very distant objects, only moderately affected by the giant planets' gravity.
Mean Diameter: The average width of the planet. No planet is a perfect sphere, so this number averages the equatorial diameter, polar diameter, etc.
Mass: How much material the planet is made up of.
Mean Density: How much mass the planet has per unit volume.
Surface Gravity: Average strength of gravity at the planet's surface.
Orbital Period: How long it takes the planet to complete an orbit (year length).
Rotational Period: How long it takes the planet to rotate about its axis (day length).
Axial Tilt: How angled the planet's rotational axis is from its orbit.
Periapsis/Apoapsis: The closest/farthest an object gets to the body it orbits. Each object with planets orbiting it has special periapsis and apoapsis names:
Perihelion/Aphelion: How close/far an object gets to the Sun
Perigee/Apogee: How close/far an object gets to Earth.
Perijove/Apojove: How close/far an object gets to Jupiter.
Perichron/Apochron: How close/far an object gets to Saturn.
Periuranion/Apouranion: How close/far an object gets to Uranus.
Periposeidion/Apoposeidion: How close/far an object gets to Neptune.
Perihadion/Apohadion: How close/far an object gets to Pluto.
Eccentricity: A number between zero and one that shows how elliptical (stretched out) a planet's orbit is. The higher the eccentricity, the farther apart a planet's periapsis and apoapsis are. Zero eccentricity is a perfect circle, 0.01 is slightly elliptical, 0.5 is very elliptical, etc.
Image Credits
The image of Pallas was prepared by the European Southern Observatory (ESO/Vernazza et al.) and can be accessed here.
The image of Interamnia was prepared by the European Southern Observatory (ESO/J. Hanuš et al.) and can be accessed here.
The image of Hygiea was prepared by the European Southern Observatory (ESO/Vernazza et al.) and can be accessed here.
All other planet images have been released by NASA into the public domain.
An image of the Table of Planets itself can be downloaded at the downloads page.
Site Credits
Website by Dylan Bedford and Andrew Lesh (copyright 2021).
The Table of Planets was created by Andrew Lesh (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Special thanks to Dr. Philip Metzger for promoting the Table of Planets and providing valuable feedback during its development. Dr. Kirby Runyon, Vanesa Muñiz Llorens, Haile Brown, Sarah Elise Kaiser, Kylie Holland, Marian Carter, Margaret Lesh, and Steven Lesh are also thanked for their feedback and support.