What do the planets’ names mean?
There are eight planets in our solar system (sorry, Pluto). Did you know all but two are named after Roman gods? Well step this way to find out more…
Post Category: Astronomy
Neptune
The eighth and final planet in solar system, Neptune is the fourth largest planet and takes 164.8 years to complete one orbit of the sun. Neptune is named after the Roman god of the...
Uranus
Hey you back there, stop your sniggering! Uranus is seventh planet from the Sun, and it’s unique in oh so many ways. Firstly, it’s the only planet to named after an Ancient Greek god,...
Saturn
With its beautiful ring system, Saturn is probably the planet that captures our imaginations the most. Primarily made up of water ice, Saturn’s ring aren’t unique in the solar system, but they’re easily the...
Jupiter
Easily the biggest planet in our solar system, and is about 10 times larger than the Earth, but a tenth the size of the Sun. Appropriately, Jupiter is named after the central god in...
Mars
The fourth planet from the Sun, Mars is the second most studied planet after our own, and is named after the Roman god of war. Mars was not only the god of war, but...
Earth
Our home planet, third from the Sun, is the only one not named after an Ancient Greek or Roman god. Earth’s name comes from eorþe, Old English for ground.
Venus
The second planet from the Sun, Venus is extremely hot and steamy all the time. Appropriate given that it’s named after the Roman god of love and sex.
Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, and has the shortest year, so it’s appropriately named after the Roman messenger god, Mercurius.