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YEAR 5 READING
The Solar System and the Planets
During a science lesson one morning, Mr. Adams asked his class a
question. He asked, “What do you see when you look up at the night
sky?” Some students said they see stars. Others said they sometimes
see the Moon. One student even said he once saw a bright object
moving across the sky which his parents told him was a planet. This
discussion led the class into an important topic in astronomy. The
class began learning about the solar system.
The solar system is the group of objects that travel around the Sun.
The Sun sits at the center of the solar system. Planets, moons,
asteroids, and comets all move around the Sun because of gravity.
Gravity is the force that pulls objects toward one another. The Sun has
strong gravity because of its large size, and this force keeps the
planets moving in paths around it.
The Sun is not a planet. The Sun is a star made mostly of hot gases. It
produces heat and light that make life possible on Earth. Without the
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Sun, Earth would become extremely cold and dark. Plants would not
grow, and animals and humans would struggle to survive.
Eight major planets travel around the Sun. Scientists group these
planets according to their position and structure. The planets are
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Each planet follows a path around the Sun called an orbit.
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It moves around the Sun
faster than any other planet. A year on Mercury lasts only eighty-eight
Earth days. Because Mercury lies close to the Sun, temperatures
there become extremely hot during the day. At night, temperatures fall
sharply because the planet has almost no atmosphere to hold heat.
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Venus often appears bright
in the sky and people sometimes call it the “morning star” or “evening
star.” Venus has thick clouds made mostly of carbon dioxide. These
clouds trap heat, which makes Venus the hottest planet in the solar
system.
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet that
supports life. Earth has liquid water, a protective atmosphere, and
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suitable temperatures for plants and animals. The Moon travels
around Earth and influences ocean tides.
Mars is often called the “red planet” because of the reddish color of its
soil and rocks. Scientists study Mars closely because they want to
know whether life ever existed there in the past. Robotic spacecraft
and rovers have explored the surface of Mars and sent pictures and
information back to Earth.
After Mars come the largest planets in the solar system. Jupiter is the
biggest planet. It is so large that more than one thousand Earths could
fit inside it. Jupiter consists mainly of gas and has a large storm called
the Great Red Spot which has existed for many years.
Saturn is well known for its beautiful rings. These rings consist of ice
and rock particles that circle the planet. Saturn also has many moons,
some of which scientists continue to study.
Uranus and Neptune lie far from the Sun. These planets contain large
amounts of icy materials and gases. Uranus rotates in a unique way. It
appears to spin on its side compared with other planets. Neptune
experiences powerful winds which move faster than any winds
recorded on Earth.
Beyond the planets, the solar system contains other objects. Asteroids
are rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, mostly between Mars and Jupiter.
Comets consist of ice, dust, and rock. When comets travel close to the
Sun, heat causes their ice to form bright tails which stretch across
space.
Scientists study the solar system using telescopes, satellites, and
space missions. Spacecraft such as probes and rovers travel long
distances to gather information about planets and moons. These
missions help scientists understand how the solar system formed and
how planets change over time.
Learning about the solar system helps people understand Earth’s
place in space. Earth is one small planet among many objects that
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move through the universe. Despite its small size, Earth supports life
and provides the environment humans need to survive.
Mr. Adams ended the lesson by reminding the class that curiosity
about space has led to many scientific discoveries. The study of
planets, stars, and galaxies continues to grow as scientists develop
better technology to explore the universe.
The students left the classroom with a deeper understanding of the
solar system and a stronger interest in space science.
Comprehension Questions
1. What is the solar system?
2. Why do planets move around the Sun?
3. Why is the Sun important for life on Earth?
4. Name the eight planets in the solar system.
5. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
6. Why is Venus the hottest planet?
7. Why do scientists study Mars closely?
8. Which planet is the largest in the solar system?
9. What are Saturn’s rings made of?
10. Name two other objects found in the solar system besides
planets.