OUR SOLAR SYSTEM  Our solar system has eight planets not including Pluto.  The sun is the middle of the solar system.

OUR SUN  The Sun is the biggest star in the solar system.  The Sun is almost as round as a circle.

Mercury  Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system.  In Mercury 88 days is one year on Earth.

Venus VVenus rotates counter clockwise. VVenus is known as Earth’s sister.

Earth  Earth is the only planet people can live on.  Earth rotates on its own 24 hour axis.

Mars  Mars was named after the Roman god of war and is also referred to as the “Red Planet.”  Some pieces of Mars have fallen to Earth.

THEASTEROID BELT  The Asteroid Belt is between the planets Mars and Jupiter.  About half the mass of the belt is made of the 4 largest asteroids.

Jupiter  Jupiter was named after the Roman God of War.  To the Greeks, it meant Zeus.

Saturn  Saturn is the flattest planet.  4 space crafts have visited Saturn.

Uranus UUranus was the first planet to be discovered in modern times, and it was discovered by William Herschel. UUranus has 27 named moons.

Neptune  Neptune is the smallest of the ice giants.  Neptune was known after the Roman god of the sea.

The Dwarf Planet Pluto  Pluto is named after the Greek god of the underworld.  Pluto is the second largest dwarf planet.

Galaxies GGalaxies can crash together. GGalaxies are made up of dust,gas, and millions of stars.

Comets AA Comet is an icy body that releases gas or dust. CComets are made of dust, ice, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane and more.