Our Solar System

Created by Tina Maloy

Our Solar System

• A Solar System is a group of objects in space that move around a central star.

• It contains:• The sun• Nine Planets• Moons• Asteroids• Comets

The Sun

•Our Sun is a star.

•Each planet revolves around the sun and rotates on its own axis.

• The sun is a burning sphere of gas.

•The time it takes a planet to orbit around the sun is called a year.

The PlanetsThere are nine planets in our Solar System.

• Inner Planets• Lie between the Sun and

the asteroid belt• Mercury• Venus• Earth• Mars• Rocky and Dense

Planets.

• Outer Planets• On the other side of the

asteroid belt• Jupiter• Saturn• Uranus• Neptune• Pluto• Gas Giants

Inner Planets

Mercury

• The planet closest to the sun

• It does not have an atmosphere

• Covered with craters• Looks like the moon

Venus

• The second planet from the sun

• Same size as the Earth• Dry with a thick

atmosphere that traps heat. (887F)

• Rotation of axis opposite of the Earth

Earth

• Third planet from the sun

• Largest of the inner planets

• Only planet that has liquid water and supports life

MarsThe Red Planet

• Fourth Planet from the sun

• Two Moons• A large volcano

“Olympus Mons”• Has no life

Outer Planets

Jupiter

• Largest Planet in our solar system

• It has a thin ring around it.

• 16 moons• A Great Red Spot

which is really a giant storm

• Mostly made of gas

Jupiter’s moon Io

Giant Red Spot

Saturn

• Well known for its rings

• Rings are so bright and wide they can be seen from Earth with a small telescope

• 18 named moons

Rings of Saturn

Uranus

• 7th Planet from the sun

• blue green ball of gas and liquid

• It has at least 21 moons

• A faint ring around it

Neptune

• The farthest away of the gas giants

• It has at least 8 moons• It has a faint ring

around it

Pluto

• The farthest from the sun

• Smallest planet• Has a rocky surface • Very little light or heat• Its moon is Charon