THE SOLAR SYSTEM
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What is the solar system?
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The solar system is the Sun and everything bound to it by gravity:
eight planets, their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets.
It formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a collapsing cloud of
gas and dust.
The Sun
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A medium-sized star that holds about 99.8% of the solar system's
mass. Its nuclear fusion provides the light and heat that make
life on Earth possible.
The eight planets (in order from the Sun)
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1. Mercury - smallest, closest to the Sun, no atmosphere.
2. Venus - hottest planet, thick toxic atmosphere.
3. Earth - the only known planet with life and liquid water.
4. Mars - the "Red Planet", home to the largest volcano.
5. Jupiter - largest planet, a gas giant with a Great Red Spot.
6. Saturn - famous for its bright system of rings.
7. Uranus - an ice giant that rotates on its side.
8. Neptune - farthest planet, with the strongest winds.
Inner vs outer planets
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- Inner (rocky): Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
- Outer (gas/ice giants): Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Fun facts
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- A day on Venus is longer than its year.
- Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth.
- Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet.
Key terms
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Star, planet, orbit, gravity, gas giant, dwarf planet.