Mercury The Sun The sun is the largest object in our solar system. It is actually a star, and there are many more stars in the Universe, but the Sun is the closest to us, which is why it appears to be so large. The Sun is actually made up of gasses, and does not have land like Earth. The Sun is very hot. Its surface temperature is over 6,000 degrees Celsius.
The Planets There are eight planets in our solar system. Each of them revolve around the Sun on their axis, or the set path they take around the Sun. They also rotate, or spin, on their axis. This is why we have night and day. Almost all of the planets have at least one moon.
The planet closest to the sun. It is visible from Earth, and is sometimes called the morning or evening star. Mercury has no moon.
Venus Known as Earth’s sister, Venus is about the same size as Earth. It is very hot, and cannot sustain life. Venus has no moons.
Jupiter Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It is made of gas, and is known as one of the “gas giants.” It has a huge red spot, which is a storm the size of earth. It has been there for 300 years. Jupiter
Saturn Saturn is larger than Earth and is made up of liquids. It has many rings as well as at least 34 moons.
Earth
Uranus
The only planet with life, Earth is like an oasis, with water and land. It has one moon, named Luna.
Mars The climate of Mars is more like Earth’s than any other planet. This makes scientists believe that it could sustain life. Mars is smaller than Earth. Mars has two moons.
Uranus spins on its side, unlike the other planets. It is believed to have oceans on its surface, and diamonds at its core. It has 27 moons.
Neptune Neptune has a storm like Jupiter, called the Great Dark Spot. Neptune has 6 rings and at least 13 moons.
Pluto For years, children have been taught that there were nine planets in our solar system. The ninth planet was Pluto. Pluto is smaller than some moons, and in 2006, scientists officially distinguished Pluto as a dwarf planet rather than a planet. Basically, a dwarf planet looks and acts like a planet, rotating and revolving on an axis, but is not a planet.
Other Celestial Bodies
Want to explore our solar system? Check out these great resources! http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_s ystem.htm http://nineplanets.org/
STEPHANIE JAMISON
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/ science/space/solar-system http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index .cfm http://kids.nineplanets.org/
Asteroids Asteroids are large rocks that float in outer space. Some are huge, but others are the size of a grain of rice. Our solar system has an asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. Most asteroids stay in the belt.
Comets Scientists say comets are small worlds made of dust and ice. They come from the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, both in our solar system. Their tails are created by Solar Wind, which is produced my the Sun’s heat and radiation.
Images Courtesy of: http://library.thinkquest.org/25097/graphics/g_main.ht http://space.about.com/od/solarsystem/ss/ visualtourss.htm http://www.green-planet-solar-energy.com/mercury-theplanet.html http://blogs.sundaymercury.net/weirdscience/2009/08/vic ious-venus.html http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/design/review2.php http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mars-earth-close.html http://www.astronomy.ie/jupiterwatches30sept10.php http://www.physics.purdue.edu/astr263l/Cassini/Cassini.h tml http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010826.html http://moorrowyear3and4.blogspot.com/ http://www.backtowild.com/2007/09/28/facts-aboutpluto/ http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/astronomy/q024 7.shtml
The Sun, the planets, and how they move.