The Solar System

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The solar system consists of the Sun; the eight official planets, at least three "dwarf planets", more than 130 satellites of the planets and a large number of small bodies called comets and asteroids. There are probably also many more planetary satellites that have not yet been discovered.

The inner solar system contains the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.

The planets of the outer solar system are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet.
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The Sun is made up of exploding, hot gasses. It is our nearest star. The Sun is the source of most of the light and heat in our solar system.


Diameter: 865,000 miles

 

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Mercury is the
smallest planet and the one
closest to the sun. Mercury has no air or water. During the day the temperature is extremely hot while at night the temperature falls well below freezing. Mercury has no moons.
 
Fast facts about Mercury:
Distance from the Sun: 36,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 3,100 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 88 days.
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Venus can often be seen in the night sky all the way here on Earth. It's often called the Morning or Evening Star. Venus has no moons.

Fast facts about Venus :
Distance from the Sun: 67,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 7,500 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 225 days.
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We live on the planet Earth. More than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water and the rest is covered by land. Earth's atmosphere contains oxygen for us to breathe and protects us from the sun's heat. The temperature on Earth is not too hot or too cold.

Fast facts about Earth :
Distance from the Sun: 93,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 7,927 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 365.26 days.

 

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Mars is a dusty, orangish-red desert planet. It gets its reddish color from the iron in the soil. This planet has seasons similar to Earth. Unlike Earth, the temperature on Mars rarely rises above freezing.

Fast facts about Mars:
Distance from the Sun: 141,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 4,200 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 687 days.

 

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Jupiter is the largest and heaviest planet in the solar system. The surface of Jupiter consists of swirling banded clouds. Jupiter is one of the brighter planets. Because of its size, Jupiter looks like a rounded disc when viewed with binoculars.

 

Fast facts about Jupiter:
Distance from the Sun: 480,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 89,000 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 12 years.

 

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Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system. It is best known for its bright, flat rings. The rings are made up of chunks of ice and rock. Saturn has 18 moons which is more than any other planet.

 

Fast facts about Saturn:
Distance from the Sun: 887,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 75,000 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 30 years.

 

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Uranus is a cold, gaseous planet. It is the third largest planet. This planet orbits the sun on its side and can be seen with the naked eye when it is at its brighest. Methane clouds on the surface give Uranus its unique color.

 

Fast facts about Uranus:
Distance from the Sun: 1,800,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 32,000 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 84 years.

 

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Neptune's atmosphere is very stormy with cold strong winds. There is alot of methane in its upper levels which causes the blue appearance of this planet.

 

 

Fast facts about Neptune:
Distance from the Sun: 2,800,000,000 miles.
Diameter: 30,600 miles.
Duration of one revolution around the sun: 164 days.

 

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Take the Solar System Quiz.

Move the cursor to the url below and click once. Good Luck!

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