How do you compare and contrast the distances between the planets in the solar system. Which planets are relitively close together and which planets are far apart?
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/
The above site is chock full of information. You may need to read a lot to get the information you need but all of it should be here. From what I could see you will be required to compare and calculate the distance between planets yourself.
To compare and contrast the distances between the planets in the solar system, we can use the average distance from the Sun to each planet. This measure is known as the "mean distance from the Sun" or "semi-major axis" and is measured in astronomical units (AU). One AU is defined as the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers.
By comparing these mean distances, we can determine which planets are relatively close together and which ones are far apart. Here are the approximate mean distances of the planets from the Sun, listed in AU:
- Mercury: 0.39 AU
- Venus: 0.72 AU
- Earth: 1 AU
- Mars: 1.52 AU
- Jupiter: 5.20 AU
- Saturn: 9.58 AU
- Uranus: 19.18 AU
- Neptune: 30.07 AU
From these distances, we can observe that Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are relatively close to one another, as their mean distances range from 0.39 AU to 1.52 AU. They can be considered the inner or terrestrial planets. On the other hand, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are much farther away from the Sun, with mean distances ranging from 5.20 AU to 30.07 AU. These are known as the outer or gas giant planets.
It's important to note that distances in space are vast, and even the planets considered close together are still relatively far apart. However, comparing their mean distances from the Sun provides a relative perspective on their separations.