What If All Planets Were Earth-Sized?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if every planet in our solar system was the size of Earth? Well, it's time to dive into this mind-boggling scenario. Let's imagine what each planet's world looks like if they were as big as our beloved blue planet, with the barren red landscape of Mars suddenly becoming a lush green oasis and the massive swirling gas giant Jupiter just disappearing, and how it affects our solar system as a whole. Are we all doomed? Buckle up, and let's find out.

The first planet on our list is Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system. But now, forget about the moon-like Mercury; instead, picture yourself on the surface of a super dynamic incandescent inferno. There are a lot of craters and active volcanoes around you, and right in front of you is a huge, blinding bright Sun. What a nightmare! But let's break these changes down.

Along with the size of Mercury, both its mass and gravity would increase. It's possible that Mercury would have a more substantial atmosphere. Temperatures on Mercury are extreme not only because it's very close to the Sun but also because of its very thin atmosphere. So during the day, the temperatures there reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit, and at night it becomes terrifyingly cold, down to negative 290 degrees Fahrenheit. But now, with stronger gravity, Mercury could have a denser atmosphere, distributing heat better. Additionally, its internal heating due to gravitational compression could increase tectonic activity, resulting in more interesting landscapes, more mountains, and more active volcanoes.

Congratulations, you have turned Mercury into Venus 2.0 for us. All these changes, however, wouldn't be very pleasant. It would become much harder to send spacecraft there. Basically, it's better for Mercury to stay as it is—small, calm, and boring.

Next up is Venus, and if it were Earth-sized, not much would change. Venus is already nearly the size of Earth, often called Earth's twin. However, in reality, the two couldn't be more different. Venus is known as The Morning Star because it's bright and visible in the sky. But don't let its beauty fool you; it's one of the most inhospitable places in our solar system, with surface temperatures around 900 degrees Fahrenheit and a thick, corrosive atmosphere of sulfuric acid. You wouldn't be planning any trips there anytime soon.

Now, let's move on to a planet that, unlike Venus, could potentially become a new home for us—Mars. Picture yourself standing on Mars' surface, watching the blue sunset and breathing in a refreshing breeze of air. Yes, you need that right air. Moreover, you could be surrounded by planets, animals, and basically feel like you're on Earth. But how is that possible?

A bigger Mars would have a stronger magnetic field and gravity, leading to a richer, denser atmosphere with a wider range of gases, including oxygen. That would make Mars much warmer and cozier, with potentially stabilized liquid water on its surface. However, it would also have a more volcanic personality, with increased internal heating and pressure leading to more frequent and more intense volcanic eruptions.

In general, the planet could become greener and lusher, but not necessarily safer. Nevertheless, it would be fascinating to witness such changes on another planet. But now, it's time to move on to the giants of our solar system. If we're enlarging the planets, let's squeeze them really hard.

If Jupiter became 11 times smaller, the first thing we'd notice is a change in gravity. Jupiter's strong gravity attracts large asteroids, protecting us from potential collisions. However, with reduced size, Jupiter would no longer provide this protection. Its thick swirling atmosphere would also have trouble staying put, potentially escaping into space, leaving behind a thinner atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Farewell to Saturn's iconic rings, made up of small particles of ice and rock. With Earth's gravity, these rings would either fall onto the planet or scatter into space. Saturn's dense hydrogen and helium atmosphere would be compressed, changing its overall size and shape. In extreme cases, Saturn could even become a brown dwarf, emitting heat and light but no longer a planet.

Now, let's compress Uranus. Its surface gravity would be much weaker, and its atmosphere might change, becoming thinner with different gases. While it might warm up slightly due to the reduced volume-to-surface-area ratio, it would still be far colder than Earth's coldest spots.

Finally, there's Neptune. If we shrunk it, it could potentially become more Earth-like. With a thinner, less dense atmosphere, it would no longer be a gas giant. Its gravity would be similar to Earth's, making it easier to move around on its surface. The temperature would likely be much warmer than the freezing conditions of the original Neptune.

But what would happen to the entire solar system if we made all the planets smaller? It's hard to predict, but their gravity and orbits could change significantly. Collisions with asteroids might become more frequent, and some orbits could become unstable. Our solar system would be a very different place.

Of course, all this is purely speculation, but it's still a fascinating thought experiment that makes you appreciate the uniqueness of our solar system.