  We study the phase curves for the planets of our Solar System; which, is
considered as a non-compact planetary system. We focus on modeling the small
variations of the light curve, based on the three photometric effects:
reflection, ellipsoidal, and Doppler beaming. Theoretical predictions for these
photometric variations are proposed, as if a hypothetical external observer
would measure them. In contrast to similar studies of multi-planetary systems,
the physical and geometrical parameters for each planet of the Solar System are
well-known. Therefore, we can evaluate with accuracy the mathematical relations
that shape the planetary light curves for an external fictitious observer. Our
results suggest that in all the planets of study the ellipsoidal effect is very
weak, while the Doppler beaming effect is in general dominant. In fact, the
latter effect seems to be confirmed as the principal cause of variations of the
light curves for the planets. This affirmation could not be definitive in
Mercury or Venus where the Doppler beaming and the reflection effects have
similar amplitudes. The obtained phase curves for the Solar System planets show
interesting new features that have not been presented before, so the results
presented here are relevant in their application to other non-compact systems,
since they allow us to have an idea of what it is expected to find in their
light curves.
