Where did they come from?
Here are some existing theories of space:
(1) NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS— This theory states that "the sun and its planets supposedly condensed out of swirling eddies of cold, dark, interstellar clouds of gas and dust" (Evolution Encyclopedia). (2) FISSION THEORY—"The "fission theory" says that our sun burst one day, and all our planets came from it. Then the moons shot out from each planet, stopped, turned sideways and began circling the planets they came out of. Our moon is said to have emerged from an explosion in the Pacific Ocean" (Evolution Encyclopedia). (3) CAPTURE THEORY—The "capture theory" says that our planets and moons were wandering around in space and the planets were captured by the gravity of our sun, and the moons were captured by the planet" (Evolution Encyclopedia). (4) ACCRETION THEORY—The "accretion, condensation, nebular contraction," or "dust cloud" theory says that small chunks of material separately formed themselves into our earth and the moon"(Evolution Encyclopedia). (5) PLANETARY COLLISION THEORY—The "collision theory" of the origin our moon theorizes that our world is said to have collided with a small planet. The resulting explosion threw off rocks which formed our orbiting moon"(Evolution Encyclopedia) . (6) STELLAR COLLISION THEORY—The "collision theory" of the origin of our entire solar system suggests that our planets, moons, and sun all spun off from a collision between stars" (Evolution Encyclopedia). (7) GAS CLOUD THEORY—The "gas cloud theory" of our planets and moons teaches that gas clouds were captured by our sun, which then mysteriously formed themselves at a distance into planets and moons" (Evolution Encyclopedia). |
How did the planets get their names?
Most of the planets get their names from Roman Gods and Goddesses.
MERCURY- Roman Winged Messenger, winged god of travel because he moves so fast.
VENUS- Roman Goddess of Love, beautiful EARTH MARS- Roman God of War JUPITER- Chief Roman God (Jupiter is King of the Gods, an elected position) SATURN- Former Roman God of Agriculture, retired. Replaced by his daughter, Ceres. URANUS- Former Roman God of the Sky, retired. Replaced by his grandson, Jupiter. NEPTUNE- Roman Lord of the Sea PLUTO- Roman Lord of the Underworld (Pluto is no longer considered a planet.) |