As you most likely know, our solar system contains several different planets.  Have you ever wondered how much each of the planets in our solar system weighs?

Before discussing this topic, it is important to first explain what “weight” actually is.  Weight is defined as the measurement of the pull of gravity on an object.  As you likely know, we stay on Earth because of its’ gravitational pull on us.  The amount of “pull” received is measured as weight – you may be familiar with units such as ounces and pounds, which measure this.  In short, weight is what is measured when you step on a scale.

The concept of “weight” does not really apply to measuring a planet – since weight is largely determined by the gravitational force from a planet, this form of measurement cannot be used to measure the planet itself.  Instead, planets are measured using a measurement called mass.   Mass is the measurement of the amount of matter an object contains. The concept of weight compared to mass can be difficult to grasp and is a topic that we will discuss in further detail in a future post.  For now, just make note that planets are most often measured in terms of mass rather than weight.

Here is a list of the mass of the planets in our solar system:

• Mercury:  0.33 x 10^24 kg
• Venus:  4.867 x 10^24 kg
• Earth: 5.972 x 10^24 kg
• Mars: 0.65 x 10^24 kg
• Jupiter: 1900 x 10^24 kg
• Saturn: 570 x 10^24 kg
• Uranus 87 x 10^24 kg
• Neptune: 100 x 10^24 kg

• Pluto: 1.3 × 10^22 kg

Related articles:

5 Notable Planets Located Outside of Solar System with Pictures
Bodies and Planets Found in Our Whole Solar System
What are the Colors of the 9 Planets in Our Solar System?
How are Planetary Rings Formed and Which Planets Have Them?
Ganymede, The Largest Moon In Our Solar System

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