Planets and Their Sizes

Part of Scales of the Universe.

Planets-and-their-sizes_HERO

Earth is nearly 13,000 kilometers across. The smallest terrestrial planet, Mercury, has a diameter about 40 percent of that size. Jupiter, the biggest planet, is more than ten times larger than Earth. The maximum possible size for a planet is a few times larger than Jupiter - about the same size as the smallest stars.

Scales of the Universe: 10(7) Meters
Mercury
AMNH/D. Finnin
Venus
AMNH/D. Finnin
Earth
AMNH/D. Finnin
Mars
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales-of-the-Universe---Jupiter
Scales-of-the-Universe---Saturn
In the Museum’s Rose Center for Earth and Space, models of the planets Neptune and Uranus suspended beside the Hayden Sphere.
Scales-of-the-Universe---Neptune
Scales of the Universe: 10(-6) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(5) Meters
model of Saturn's moon, Janus
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(4) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(3) Meters
In the Museum’s Rose Center for Earth and Space, a model of Meteor Crater.
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(2) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(-2) Meters
A small white sphere on display in the Museum's Rose Center for Earth and Space.
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(0) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(-1) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(-2) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(-3) Meters
Rain drop
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(-4) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(-5) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(-6) Meters
Red blood cell
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(-7) Meters
Scales of the Universe: 10(-8) Meters
Rhinovirus
AMNH/D. Finnin
Scales of the Universe: 10(-9) Meters

In This Section

Saturn If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Saturn. Uranus If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Uranus. Neptune If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Neptune. Janus If the Hayden Sphere is the size of Earth, then this model is the relative size of Saturn’s moon Janus. Meteor Crater If the Hayden Sphere is the size of Saturn’s moon Janus, then this model is the relative size of Meteor Crater. The Hayden Sphere and Humans If the Hayden Sphere is the size of Meteor Crater, then this model is the relative size of the Hayden Sphere. Raindrop If the Hayden Sphere is the size of the human brain, then this model is the relative size of a raindrop. Red Blood Cell If the Hayden Sphere is the size of a raindrop then this model is the relative size of a red blood cell. Rhinovirus If the Hayden Sphere is the size of a red blood cell, then this model is the relative size of a rhinovirus. Mercury If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Mercury. Venus If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Venus. Earth If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Earth. Mars If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Mars. Jupiter If the Hayden sphere is the size of the Sun, then this model is the relative size of Jupiter.