THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Our solar system is a vast and fascinating place, centered around a star we call the
Sun. Everything in our solar system, including planets, moons, asteroids, and
comets, orbits around the Sun due to its immense gravitational pull.
THE SUN
The Sun is a star, a giant ball of hot gas that produces light and heat through
nuclear fusion. It is the source of almost all energy on Earth, supporting life as we
know it. The Sun makes up about 99.86% of the total mass of our solar system.
THE INNER PLANETS (TERRESTRIAL PLANETS)
These are the four planets closest to the Sun. They are relatively small and rocky,
with solid surfaces.
MERCURY
• The smallest planet and closest to the Sun.
• Has a very thin atmosphere and extreme temperature variations.
• Takes about 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun.
VENUS
• Similar in size to Earth, often called Earth's 'sister planet'.
• Has a thick, toxic atmosphere that traps heat, making it the hottest planet.
• Rotates very slowly and in the opposite direction to most planets.
EARTH
• Our home planet, unique for having liquid water on its surface and
supporting life.
• Has a protective atmosphere and a single moon.
• Orbits the Sun in about 365.25 days.
MARS
• Known as the 'Red Planet' due to its iron-rich soil.
• Has a thin atmosphere and features like volcanoes, canyons, and polar ice
caps.
• Has two small moons and is a target for future space exploration.
THE OUTER PLANETS (GAS GIANTS AND ICE GIANTS)
These are the four planets farther from the Sun. They are much larger than the
inner planets and are primarily composed of gases and liquids.
JUPITER
• The largest planet in our solar system, a gas giant.
• Known for its Great Red Spot, a giant storm.
• Has many moons, including the four large Galilean moons: Io, Europa,
Ganymede, and Callisto.
SATURN
• Famous for its prominent and beautiful ring system, made of ice and rock.
• Also a gas giant.
• Has numerous moons, with Titan being the largest and having a thick
atmosphere.
URANUS
• An ice giant, tilted on its side, rotating almost perpendicular to its orbit.
• Has a bluish-green color due to methane in its atmosphere.
• Possesses a system of rings and many moons.
NEPTUNE
• The farthest planet from the Sun, an ice giant.
• Has a deep blue color and strong winds.
• Like Uranus, it has rings and many moons, with Triton being the largest.
OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES
Our solar system is also home to many other objects:
ASTEROIDS
• Rocky, airless worlds that orbit the Sun, mostly found in the Asteroid Belt
between Mars and Jupiter.
COMETS
• Icy bodies that, when they get close to the Sun, heat up and release gases,
forming a visible coma and sometimes a tail.
DWARF PLANETS
• Celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, are round due to their own gravity, but
have not cleared the neighborhood around their orbit. Pluto is a well-known
example.
OUR PLACE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and our solar system is just one of billions in
the Milky Way galaxy. Understanding our solar system helps us understand our
place in the vast universe.
