1. (before Pluto lost its planet status)
The Eight Planets
(before Pluto lost its planet status)

2. Closest planet to the sun
Revolves around the earth quickly—in 88 days
Mercury (Hermes) was the messenger god, noted for speed

3. Brightest planet
Surrounded by a lovely color
Venus (Aphrodite) is the goddess of beauty

4. The red planet
Associated with blood or war
Mars (Ares) is the god of war

5. The largest planet
Has its own circling moons
Jupiter (Zeus) is the chief of all the gods and some of his lovers are symbolized in the moons

6. the second-largest planet
To ancient astronomers, it was the farthest away
Saturn (Cronus) was pushed out by his son Jupiter.

7. A more recent discovery, next in line to Saturn
Uranus (Heaven) was the father of Saturn and the grandfather of Jupiter

8. Greenish in color
Has two moons like the prongs of a trident
Neptune (Poseidon) is the god of the sea.

9. Outermost planet
Farthest away from the sun
Pluto (Hades) is the god of the underworld, of darkness