Solar System statistical information

As you may or may not know, most good, bad, and mediocre astronomical publications come complete with a list of statistics all about the Solar System. Most of them flatly contradict each other to the point that it's sometimes difficult to tell which is exactly correct. There are also the routine problems such as publication dates, typing errors in data entry, accuracy of significant figures, coffee stains all over the bit you're trying to read, and straightforward incorrectness.

Dark Skies yearns to be an established part of this trend - except without the coffee stains - and thus provides it's own edition of statistics all about the Solar System. Well, not really. These statistics have been taken from the New Zealand Astronomical Yearbook 1997 by Stan Walker and Grant Christie.

^* These two planets spin in the opposite direction from the normal direction of planets within the Solar System.

Mean distance from Sun: This statistic describes the average distance which the planet is from the Sun throughout its orbital year. Orbits are very rarely circular, so there is no specific distance which a planet will be from the Sun. This distance is given both in kilometres, and in Astronomical Units.

Diameter at equator: The diameter of the planet accross it's equator. Planets are very rarely sperical, and most will be a smaller diameter if measured from pole to pole. This distance is given in kilometres.

Known moons: The number of natural satellites known to orbit the planet. Chances are some satellites have not been discovered around some planets - particularly the four gas giants - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Most of the satellites are too small to see easily from Earth and found by studying satellite exploring images.

Orbital period: The length of time this planet takes to orb it the Sun.

Rotational period: The length of time this planet takes to spin once on it's axis. d = days, hr = hours, m = minutes.