With stories about giant hurricanes devastating coastal towns and earthquakes shaking up cities on the fault lines, many people call weather on Earth extreme. When temperatures rise above 85°F or rains last for more than two days, people are quick to complain about Earth’s weather patterns. However, weather here on Earth is very mild compared to some weather patterns happening on our distant space neighbors.

Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system and the closest to the sun. Mercury’s atmosphere barely exists; therefore, the small terrestrial planet cannot trap any heat from the Sun. Combined with the planet’s close proximity to the sun, Mercury undergoes some extreme temperature fluctuations. During the day, Mercury can reach temperatures of about 800°F. During nighttime, temperatures can drop to -290°F.

Venus, another terrestrial planet much closer in size to Earth, has a very thick atmosphere made up of mostly carbon dioxide with a tiny percentage of nitrogen. Clouds of sulfuric acid also exist on Venus, and these clouds are the reason the planet experiences one of the most extreme weather cases in the solar system. On Earth, clouds are formed from water droplets, hydrogen oxide molecules, and when these clouds condense, normal rain is the outcome. On Venus, though, since the clouds are made of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid, when these condense, the rain is actually sulfuric acid. The planet is so hot, though, that the rain evaporates before hitting the ground.

Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. This gas giant is home to huge, extreme storms such as the Great Red Spot, a hurricane-like storm that has been raging on since it was discovered over 400 years ago. Jupiter also houses over 30 jet streams, some reaching speeds up to 300 miles per hour. Recently, scientists discovered that in both Jupiter and Saturn, diamonds could be floating the hydrogen and helium fluid. At lower depths, scientists speculate that higher temperatures and immense pressure can melt the diamonds and cause liquid diamonds to rain from the sky.

Saturn, another gas giant, has an atmosphere much like Jupiter’s. Winds on this planet can reach speeds of 1100 miles per hour, and like Jupiter, scientists believe that diamonds are floating in the planet’s atmosphere and growing large enough to be considered “diamondbergs.” Nearer to the surface of Saturn, carbon is pressurized into graphite, meaning not only would travelers have to be wary of raining diamonds, but also raining pencil lead. Saturn also houses extreme storms. At the north pole of the second largest planet in the solar is a major storm system shaped like a hexagon with each side of the shape being 8,600 miles long. Another storm is over 6,400 miles across, which is the equivalent of traveling from Los Angeles, California to Beijing, China.

While Earth’s weather patterns do seem extreme at times, humans really take for granted the relatively pleasant conditions that are usually present. No one here on Earth ever has to worry about being pelted with diamond rain or being swept away by a humongous windstorm.

With stories about giant hurricanes devastating coastal towns and earthquakes shaking up cities on the fault lines, many people call weather on Earth extreme. When temperatures rise above 85°F or rains last for more than two days, people are quick to complain about Earth’s weather patterns. However, weather here on Earth is very mild compared to some weather patterns happening on our distant space neighbors.

Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system and the closest to the sun. Mercury’s atmosphere barely exists; therefore, the small terrestrial planet cannot trap any heat from the Sun. Combined with the planet’s close proximity to the sun, Mercury undergoes some extreme temperature fluctuations. During the day, Mercury can reach temperatures of about 800°F. During nighttime, temperatures can drop to -290°F.

Venus, another terrestrial planet much closer in size to Earth, has a very thick atmosphere made up of mostly carbon dioxide with a tiny percentage of nitrogen. Clouds of sulfuric acid also exist on Venus, and these clouds are the reason the planet experiences one of the most extreme weather cases in the solar system. On Earth, clouds are formed from water droplets, hydrogen oxide molecules, and when these clouds condense, normal rain is the outcome. On Venus, though, since the clouds are made of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid, when these condense, the rain is actually sulfuric acid. The planet is so hot, though, that the rain evaporates before hitting the ground.

Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. This gas giant is home to huge, extreme storms such as the Great Red Spot, a hurricane-like storm that has been raging on since it was discovered over years ago. Jupiter also houses over 30 jet streams, some reaching speeds up to 300 miles per hour. Recently, scientists discovered that in both Jupiter and Saturn, diamonds could be floating the hydrogen and helium fluid. At lower depths, scientists speculate that higher temperatures and immense pressure can melt the diamonds and cause liquid diamonds to rain from the sky.

Saturn, another gas giant, has an atmosphere much like Jupiter’s. Winds on this planet can reach speeds of 1100 miles per hour, and like Jupiter, scientists believe that diamonds are floating in the planet’s atmosphere and growing large enough to be considered “diamondbergs.” Nearer to the surface of Saturn, carbon is pressurized into graphite, meaning not only would travelers have to be wary of raining diamonds, but also raining pencil lead. Saturn also houses extreme storms. At the north pole of the second largest planet in the solar is a major storm system shaped like a hexagon with each side of the shape being 8,600 miles long. Another storm is over 6,400 miles across, which is the equivalent of traveling from Los Angeles, California to Beijing, China.

While Earth’s weather patterns do seem extreme at times, humans really take for granted the relatively pleasant conditions that are usually present. No one here on Earth ever has to worry about being pelted with diamond rain or being swept away by a humongous windstorm.