Our Solar System

The Sun is at the center of our Solar System.

It is made up mostly of the gases hydrogen and helium.

The Sun is about 5 billion years old.

Everything in the Solar System orbits the Sun.

Solar System Objects

• The Sun
• The Planets
• Dwarf Planets
• Moons
• Comets
• Asteroids

The Planets in Order from Closest to the Sun

• Mercury
• Venus
• Earth
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune

Here are some fun facts about objects in the Solar System.

Mercury is the smallest planet. It also travels the fastest around the Sun!

You would think Mercury was the hottest planet, but it isn't.

Venus is!

Venus can reach 880°F! Mercury can only reach 800°F.

Earth is our home.

It's the only planet we know of that supports life.

Mars is the last of the Rocky Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars). Planets made up mostly of rock.

Mars has the tallest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons.

The next four planets are sometimes called the Gas Giants.

Jupiter is huge!

The Great Red Spot, a giant storm, is as wide as three Earths!

Jupiter is made mostly of gas, like the Sun.

Saturn is the next biggest planet.

It is know for its rings, which are made of rock and ice chunks.

Uranus is a Gas Giant.

Something tipped Uranus on its side.

Neptune was named after the god of the sea. Can you guess why?

Neptune has winds that can blow 1,000 mph!

Poor Pluto!

It used to be a planet. Now it's a dwarf planet.

Comets are a part of the Solar System.

They are balls of ice that fly around the Sun. Their tails are particles being blown away from the Sun.

Asteroids are part of the Solar System, too.

Most asteroids circle the Sun in an orbit between Mars and Jupiter.

I hope you had a stellar time learning about the Solar System!