2. ` Our Solar System

3. Definition Of A Planet *An object in orbit around a star but does not give off its own light, rather it shines by reflecting sunlight. *Planets close to the sun are rocky (inner planets) *Planets farther away from the sun consist mostly of gases and liquids (outer planets) *There are eight major planets in our solar system.

4. Inner Planets are called inner planets because they orbit close to the sun. These planets are:  Mars  Mercury  Venus  Earth

5. Outer Planets are called outer planets because they orbit far from the sun. These planets are called:  Jupiter  Saturn  Uranus  Neptune

6. Asteroids are sometimes called minor planets because the are made up of rocks and metal. The rocks come in many sizes. They are found in a large area between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This area is known as the Asteroid Belt

7. MERCURY  Closest planet to the sun.  Second hottest planet.  Now the smallest planet since Pluto is no longer one.  Has no moons.  Can only be seen from Earth at sunrise or sunset because it is so close to the sun  Rocky, cratered surface.

8. VENUS  Second planet from the sun.  The hottest planet in the Solar System.  Covered with fast-moving sulphuric acid clouds which trap the heat from the sun.  It’s atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide.  Venus is slightly smaller than Earth.  It has no moons.  Know as the “morning star” since it is visible and quite bright at dawn or dusk. This is because it is closer to the sun than we are.  Rotates clockwise.

9. EARTH  Third planet from the sun.  Densest planet in the Solar system.  Has one moon.  Fifth largest planet in the Solar System.  Has an atmosphere of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gasses.  Has liquid and frozen water.  Polar ice caps.

10. MARS  Called the red planet.  Fourth planet from the sun.  Most Earth-like planet in the Solar System.  Half the size of Earth.  Dry, rocky surface.  Very thin atmosphere  Carbon dioxide  Polar ice caps- frozen water and carbon dioxide.  Large volcano- Olympus Mons  Two tiny moons- Phobos and Deimos

11. JUPITER  Fifth planet from the sun.  A gas giant.  It is so big that all the other planets could fit inside Jupiter.  Thick atmosphere.  Has a dark, barely-visible ring.  Huge red spot is a long- lasting storm.  Has 63 Moons  Ganymede is the largest moon in Solar System.

12. SATURN  Sixth planet from the sun.  Gas giant.  Second biggest planet in the Solar System.  Many beautiful rings made mostly of ice chunks and rocks.  Saturn made of hydrogen and helium gasses.  Visible without a telescope but one is needed to see the rings.  Has 62 moons.

13. URANUS  Seventh planet from the sun.  Huge, icy planet covered with clouds.  Encircled by a belt of 11 rings.  Blue color is caused by the methane in it’s atmosphere. (absorbs red light.)  Rotates on its side (along its orbital path.)  Tipped rotational axis gives rise to extreme seasons.  Has 27 moons.  Appears to rotate clockwise.

14. NEPTUNE  8 TH planet from the sun.  Giant, frigid, gas giant.  Hazy atmosphere and strong winds.  Narrow, faint rings.  Blue color is caused by methane in its atmosphere.  Axis is tilted a little more than Earth’s. Gives long-lasting seasons. The poles are in constant darkness or sunlight for 40 years at a time.  Has 13 moons.

15. Sun - The Sun is a star at the center of our Solar System. Mercury - Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. Venus - Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is the hottest planet. Earth - Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the planet we live on. Mars - Mars is a red planet and the fourth planet from the Sun. Jupiter - Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun. This gas giant is the largest planet. Saturn- Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. This gas giant has large, beautiful rings. Uranus- Uranus is a gas giant and is the seventh planet from the Sun. Neptune- Neptune is a gas giant and is usually the eighth planet from the Sun.

16. The Solar System

17. SUN Mercury Venus Earth Mars JupiterSaturn UranusNeptune Pluto

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