Our Solar System Mary Meguerditchian Science 3 rd Grade

Our Solar System Consists Of… Sun Sun Inner or Terrestrial Planets Inner or Terrestrial Planets The Asteroid Belt The Asteroid Belt Outer Planets or Gas Giants Outer Planets or Gas Giants Comets Comets Moons Moons

Sun Center and Star of our Solar System Center and Star of our Solar System Planets travel around it in circular paths or orbits Planets travel around it in circular paths or orbits Holds the solar system together Holds the solar system together Filled with scorching, hot gases Filled with scorching, hot gases Provides energy that heats our world and makes life possible Provides energy that heats our world and makes life possible

Inner or Terrestrial Planets Includes four, small planets: Includes four, small planets: Mercury Mercury Venus Venus Earth Earth Mars Mars Composed of rock and metal Composed of rock and metal

Mercury Innermost and smallest planet Closest planet to the sun It is gray, hot and very dry Surface is covered with craters Has a metallic or iron core Has no water, no air, and no moons

Venus Second planet from the Sun Second planet from the Sun Earth’s closest and most similar neighbor Earth’s closest and most similar neighbor Brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and Moon Brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and Moon Surface is covered with thick, poisonous clouds Surface is covered with thick, poisonous clouds Has no oxygen in its air and no water on its surface Has no oxygen in its air and no water on its surface

Earth Third planet from the Sun Third planet from the Sun Only planet where life exists Only planet where life exists Home to humans Home to humans Largest of the inner planets Largest of the inner planets Only planet that has liquid water at its surface Only planet that has liquid water at its surface Its atmosphere helps protect life on Earth Its atmosphere helps protect life on Earth Also known as the Blue Planet Also known as the Blue Planet

Mars Fourth planet from the Sun Fourth planet from the Sun Also known as the Red Planet due to the presence of iron oxide on its surface Also known as the Red Planet due to the presence of iron oxide on its surface Has a very thin atmosphere Has a very thin atmosphere Contains enormous volcanoes, valleys, canyons, boulders, and clouds of red dust Contains enormous volcanoes, valleys, canyons, boulders, and clouds of red dust

Outer Planets or Gas Giants Includes four planets: Includes four planets: Jupiter Jupiter Saturn Saturn Uranus Uranus Neptune Neptune Composed of mainly hydrogen and helium Composed of mainly hydrogen and helium More massive than the inner planets More massive than the inner planets

The Asteroid Belt Lies between Mars and Jupiter Lies between Mars and Jupiter Asteroids are small, rocky objects Asteroids are small, rocky objects Believed to be left over from the beginning of the solar system Believed to be left over from the beginning of the solar system

Jupiter Largest planet in our solar system Largest planet in our solar system Covered by a layer of clouds made of chemicals, which give them a reddish or brownish color Covered by a layer of clouds made of chemicals, which give them a reddish or brownish color The Great Red Spot and other storms occur commonly on its atmosphere The Great Red Spot and other storms occur commonly on its atmosphere

Saturn Sixth planet from the sun and the second largest Has thousands of rings around it that are made of ice, rock and dust Contains yellow and gold bands in its atmosphere due to fast winds and rising heat

Uranus Seventh planet from the Sun Covered with thick, blue-green fog It is circled by rings Spins differently than others; seems to be lying on its side

Neptune Coldest and furthest planet from the Sun Coldest and furthest planet from the Sun Blue in color because of the methane gas found in its atmosphere Blue in color because of the methane gas found in its atmosphere Obtains strong winds that cause hurricane-like storms, like the Great Dark Spot Obtains strong winds that cause hurricane-like storms, like the Great Dark Spot

Comets Small Solar System bodies that orbit the Sun Small Solar System bodies that orbit the Sun Balls of rock and ice Balls of rock and ice Known as “dirty snowballs” Known as “dirty snowballs” Grow tails or leave trails as they approach the Sun, which becomes illuminated and glows Grow tails or leave trails as they approach the Sun, which becomes illuminated and glows

Moons Natural satellites that orbit planets or other small solar system bodies Natural satellites that orbit planets or other small solar system bodies Only Mercury and Venus are moonless Only Mercury and Venus are moonless Earth has one, while Jupiter has 63 moons Earth has one, while Jupiter has 63 moons

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References Astronomy For Kids Astronomy For Kids National Geographic National Geographic /space/solar-system /space/solar-system /space/solar-system /space/solar-system Wikipedia Wikipedia