Our Solar System Follow story

The solar system consists of eight planets and their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other celestial bodies that orbit around our star we call the sun. The sun is a huge, hot ball of gas that creates light and heat through nuclear fusion that sustains life on Earth.

The eight planets in our solar system are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each planet is unique and has its own characteristics, such as size, shape, and composition.

• Mercury is the smallest planet and is closest to the sun. It's a rocky planet with a heavily cratered surface.
• Venus is the second planet and is known for its thick, toxic atmosphere that traps heat, making it the hottest planet in the solar system.
• Earth is the third planet and is home to millions of species including humans. It's the only planet known to have liquid water on its surface, which is essential for life.
• Mars is the fourth planet and is known as the "Red Planet" due to its reddish appearance. It's a rocky planet which is home to the largest canyon and largest mountain in the solar system.
• Jupiter is the largest planet and is known for its "Great Red Spot" which is a storm so big it could fit 3 Earths inside it. It has colorful bands of clouds and many moons.
• Saturn is known for its beautiful thick rings made up of ice particles and rocks, which can be as small as a grain of sand.
• Uranus is known for its unique tilted axis, which causes it to rotate on its side.
• Neptune is known for its deep blue color and super strong winds, which are the fastest in the solar system.

Dwarf planets are small, rocky or icy bodies that orbit the Sun but are not large enough to be considered planets, or small enough to be considered asteroids or comets. Pluto was once considered the ninth planet in our solar system but was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.

Asteroids are small rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, many of which can be found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets are made up of ice, dust, and gas and have a tail that points away from the sun.

The solar system has been around for over 4.6 billion years, and scientists are still learning about it today. Some of the most exciting discoveries in recent years include the possibility of liquid water on some moons, and the discovery of a new dwarf planet called "The Goblin," which has a 40,000 year orbit around the sun.

Our solar system is an incredible place with many fascinating objects to explore. From planets and moons to comets and asteroids, there's always something new to discover. Studying the solar system helps us understand our place in the universe and how we can protect our planet for future generations.

Fun Fact!

We call it the "solar system" because Sol (our sun) is at the center of the system. The sun is named "Sol" after the Latin word for sun, which is "solis."