Solar System

Planets in order

Mercury

Mercury

Mercury is the planet nearest to the sun. Mercury is a little bit larger than the

Earth’s moon. It has no atmosphere (means almost no

air) The surface of Mercury that faces the sun

can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit. At night it can plummet to -300 degrees

Fahrenheit. The surface is covered with craters. Mercury has NO moons

Venus

Venus is 2nd from the sun. Venus is in many ways Earth's sister planet. Venus is made up of almost the exact same

types of materials as the Earth and in about the same amounts. Venus has volcanoes, mountains and sand, just like Earth.

Venus is very dry and has very little water left on.

The temperatures on Venus can reach almost 900 degrees Fahrenheit

Venus

EARTH

Earth is the 3rd planet from the sun. It has one moon It is the 5th largest planet in our Solar

System. The Earth’s atmosphere is composed of

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen,0.03 carbon dioxide and traces of other gases.

About30% of Earth’s surface is covered with land, while 70% is covered by oceans.

The Earth’s temperature, weather and atmosphere are just right to keep us alive.

EARTH

Mars

Mars is the 4th planet from the sun. Mars is called the red planet. Mars is half the size of Earth It has a dry rocky surface and a very

thin atmosphere. The north and south poles are covered

by ice caps, which are composed of frozen water and carbon dioxide.

Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in our Solar System.

Mars has two tiny moon.

Mars

Jupiter

Jupiter is the 5th planet from the sun. Is a gas giant and the biggest planet

in our Solar System. Jupiter is so big that all the other

planets could fit inside Jupiter. Jupiter has a thick atmosphere. It has dozens of moons and a dark,

barely visible ring. The huge red spot is a long-lasting

storm.

Jupiter

Saturn

Saturn is the 6th planet from the sun. It is a gas giant and the second

biggest planet in our Solar System. Saturn is made mostly of hydrogen

and helium gas. It has beautiful rings that are made

mostly of ice chunks and some rock. Saturn has dozens of moons. Saturn is visible without a telescope.

Saturn

Uranus

Uranus Uranus is the 7th planet from the sun. The huge icy planet is covered with

clouds. It has a belt of 11 rings and has 22

moons. Uranus’ blue color is caused by

methane in its atmosphere. Uranus’ rotational axis is strongly

tilted on its side. Uranus rotates on its side, this gives

causes extreme seasons.

Neptune

Earth

Neptune Neptune is the 8th planet from the

sun. This giant gas planet is orbited by

eight moons. Neptune’s blue color is caused by

methane in its atmosphere. Neptune has long lasting seasons

due to its rotational axis, which is tilted.

Neptune’s poles are in constant darkness or it has sunlight for 40 years at a time.