Planets in the solar system without natural satellites

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Planets Without Natural Satellites in the Solar System

Mercury and Venus: The Only Planets Without Moons

Mercury and Venus are the only two planets in the solar system that do not have any natural satellites. This is a well-established fact, supported by multiple studies and reviews of planetary systems 126. All other planets, including Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, have at least one natural satellite.

Reasons for the Absence of Moons Around Mercury and Venus

The lack of moons around Mercury and Venus is linked to their position in the solar system and their gravitational characteristics. Both planets are located close to the Sun, which means the Sun’s gravitational pull is much stronger compared to the outer planets. This strong solar influence makes it difficult for these planets to capture or retain natural satellites 12.

Additionally, the ratio of the planet’s radius to its Hill radius (the region where a planet’s gravity dominates over the Sun’s) is higher for Mercury and Venus than for the other planets. This means their gravitational “spheres of influence” are relatively small, making it unlikely for them to hold onto moons .

Contrast with Outer Planets and Satellite Formation

In contrast, the outer planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—have large Hill spheres and are able to capture and retain many satellites. These planets have extensive satellite systems, including both regular and irregular moons, due to their greater distance from the Sun and stronger gravitational influence in their local regions 257.

Summary

In summary, Mercury and Venus are the only planets in the solar system without natural satellites. This is primarily due to their proximity to the Sun and their limited gravitational reach, which prevents them from capturing or retaining moons. All other planets in the solar system have at least one natural satellite, with the outer planets hosting complex and numerous satellite systems 12567.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

The Criteria for Reducing Centrally Restricted Three-Body Problem to Two-Body Problem

Under very low R1 (less than 0.006), planets have spacious Hill lobes to capture and retain natural satellites, with the exception of Mercury and Venus, which do not have satellites.

2024·

0citations

·Bijay Kumar Sharma

Where are the Satellites of the Inner Planets

The inner planets lack extensive satellite systems, suggesting a different origin for the inner and outer planets, or that physical processes were not as important in the inner Solar System.

1973·

40citations

·J. Burns

Gravitational clearing of natural satellite orbits

The absence of small satellites in the central region around planets may be due to gravitational clearing by large moons, with exceptions like Hyperion on Saturn and Trojan satellites of Saturn's moons Tethys and Dione.

2022·

0citations

·R. J. Hill

Exploring formation scenarios for the exomoon candidate Kepler 1625b I

In-situ formation is viable for the Kepler 1625b I exomoon candidate, with tidal evolution playing a key role in shaping its final architecture.

2020·

7citations

·R. Moraes et al.

Formation of Regular Satellites from Ancient Massive Rings in the Solar System

Most regular satellites in the solar system likely formed from ancient massive rings that once surrounded their planets, with Uranus and Neptune having had rings that disappeared to give birth to most of their regular moons.

Highly Cited

2012·

146citations

·A. Crida et al.

Gravitation and Newton’s Laws

The Solar System consists of eight major planets and a number of dwarf planets, with the Moon and some asteroids acting as satellites.

2021·

1citation

·M. Chaichian et al.

Irregular Satellites of the Planets: Products of Capture in the Early Solar System

Irregular satellites of the planets were captured from initially heliocentric orbits at an early epoch, with no convincing explanation for their formation mechanisms or their source.

Highly Cited

2007·

132citations

·D. Jewitt et al.

How many satellites are discovered in the Solar System after Galileo

The total number of natural satellites and multiple systems in the Solar System was equal to 350 by the beginning of 2010, with 168 planet-side satellites, 119 asteroids, and 63 transneptunian and Kuiper-belt objects.

2010·

0citations

·Zhanna Pozhalova et al.

Formation of Giant Planet Satellites

The circumplanetary disk can act as a global dust trap, leading to the formation of natural satellites of Jupiter and Saturn through gravitational fragmentation and orbital migration.

2020·

53citations

·K. Batygin et al.

Evidence for a large exomoon orbiting Kepler-1625b

A large exomoon with a mass and radius similar to Neptune is orbiting Kepler-1625b, a Jupiter-sized planet, based on timing deviations and a flux decrement from the star.

Highly Cited

2018·

120citations

·A. Teachey et al.

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