The Solar System

By Julie Dort

The Solar System

Our solar system consists of: the sun

the nine planets (and their moons)

It also has an asteroid belt, and many comets and meteors.

The Moon

The moon is a cold, dry orb whose surface is studded with craters and strewn with rocks and dust.

The moon dust is called regolith.

SUN

Our sun is a star located at the center of our solar system.

It is a huge, spinning ball of hot gas and nuclear reactions that lights up the Earth and provides us with heat.

Mercury

Mercury is the planet closest to the sun in our solar system.

It is small, rocky planet has almost no atmosphere.

VENUS

Venus is the second planet from the sun in our solar system.

It is the hottest planet in our Solar System.

EARTH

The Earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system.

It is the planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar System that is known to support life.

MARS

Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.

It is about half the size of Earth.

It has a dry, rocky surface and a very thin atmosphere.

JUPITER

Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in our solar system.

This gas giant has a thick atmosphere, 17 moons, and a dark, barely-visible ring.

SATURN

Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system.

It is the second-largest planet in our solar system.

URANUS

Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system.

This huge, icy planet is covered with clouds and is encircled by a belt of 11 rings and 18 moons.

NEPTUNE

Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun in our solar system.

This giant, frigid planet has a hazy atmosphere and strong winds.

PLUTO

Pluto is the ninth and usually the farthest planet from the sun in our solar system.

It also the smallest planet in our solar system and the last to be discovered.

COMETS AND ASTEROIDS

A comet is a small, icy celestial body that orbits around the sun. It is made up of a nucleus, a gaseous coma and a tail.

The tail can be up to 250 million km long. Asteroids are rocky or metallic objects,

most of which orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Test your knowledge about the solar system by filling out a quiz.

Just click on the check mark and it will take you to the quiz.

Please do not do questions 9, 11, and 15.

Credits: pictures, information and quiz http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/

subjects/astronomy/ http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/

StarChild/solar_system_level1/solar_system.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/classroom/quiz/solarsystem.shtml