is even smaller than Earth's Moon, which has a diameter of 3,474

Solar System kilometers (2,159 miles).

Our solar system is
made up of a star—the Sun—
eight planets, 146 moons, a  Closest planet to the Sun: Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun,
bunch of comets, asteroids and with an average distance of 57,910,000 kilometers (35,983,000
space rocks, ice, and several miles). It takes Mercury only 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun.
dwarf planets, such as Pluto.  Fastest planet: Mercury is also the fastest planet in our solar
The eight planets are Mercury, system, with an orbital velocity of 47.87 kilometers per second
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, (29.78 miles per second).
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.  No atmosphere: Mercury has no atmosphere to speak of. The only
Mercury is closest to the Sun. gas present in significant quantities is helium.
Neptune is the farthest.  Rough surface: Mercury's surface is heavily cratered, with many
craters that are larger than those on Earth's Moon. This is because
Planets, asteroids, and comets orbit our Sun. They travel
Mercury has no atmosphere to protect it from the impact of comets
around our Sun in a flattened circle called an ellipse. It takes the
and asteroids.
Earth one year to go around the Sun. Mercury goes around the Sun in
 No moons: Mercury does not have any moons.
only 88 days. It takes Pluto, the most famous dwarf planet, 248 years
 Iron core: Mercury has a large iron core that makes up about 75%
to make one trip around the Sun.
of its mass. This is the largest iron core of any planet in our solar
Moons orbit planets. Right now, Jupiter has the most named system.
moons—50. Mercury and Venus don't have any moons. Earth has
one. It is the brightest object in our night sky. The Sun, of course, is Venus
the brightest object in our daytime sky. It lights up the moon, planets,
comets, and asteroids.  Size and mass: Venus is the second-largest planet in our solar
system, after Jupiter. It has a diameter of 12,104 kilometers (7,520
miles), which is about 95% the size of Earth. Its mass is 81.5% of
Earth's.
The Eight Planet and their  Atmosphere: Venus has a very thick atmosphere, which is made
Characteristics up of 96.5% carbon dioxide, 3.5% nitrogen, and trace amounts of
other gases. The pressure at the surface of Venus is about 92
Mercury times greater than the pressure at Earth's surface.
 Surface temperature: The surface temperature of Venus is the
hottest in our solar system, reaching up to 863 degrees Fahrenheit
 Smallest planet: Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar (462 degrees Celsius). This is because the atmosphere of Venus
system, with a diameter of only 4,879 kilometers (3,031 miles). It traps heat from the Sun, creating a runaway greenhouse effect.
  Rotation: Venus rotates very slowly, taking 243 Earth days
complete one rotation on its axis. This is the opposite direction
most other planets in our solar system.
 Surface features: The surface of Venus is covered in volcanoes, tectonics also helps to recycle the Earth's crust, which is essential
craters, and mountains. There are also vast plains and deserts.for the continued existence of life on Earth.
 Magnetic field: Venus does not have a strong magnetic field like
Earth. This is because it does not have a molten iron core.
 Venus is a very hot and inhospitable planet, but it is still a
fascinating world that scientists are eager to learn more about.
Earth
 Distance from the Sun: Earth is located in the habitable zone of
the Solar System, which is the region where liquid water can exist
on the surface of a planet. The habitable zone is not a specific
distance from the Sun, but it is generally thought to be between
0.9 and 1.3 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. Earth is located
at 1 AU from the Sun, which is considered to be the perfect
distance for liquid water to exist.
 Atmosphere: Earth's atmosphere is made up of mostly nitrogen
(78%) and oxygen (21%), with small amounts of other gases such
as carbon dioxide, argon, and water vapor. The atmosphere is
essential for life on Earth because it protects us from harmful
radiation from the Sun, helps to regulate the Earth's temperature,
and provides oxygen for breathing.
 Hydrosphere: Earth's hydrosphere is the water that exists on,
above, and below the surface of the planet. The hydrosphere is
essential for life on Earth because it provides water for drinking,
bathing, and agriculture. It also helps to regulate the Earth's
temperature and climate.
 Magnetic field: Earth has a magnetic field that protects us from
harmful solar radiation. The magnetic field is generated by the
Earth's core, which is made up of molten iron and nickel. The
magnetic field deflects the solar radiation away from the Earth's
atmosphere, protecting life on the surface from harmful radiation.
Plate
to tectonics: Earth's crust is made up of several plates that are
constantly
of moving. This process of plate tectonics is responsible
for the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Plate
 Biodiversity: Earth is home to an incredible diversity of life, from
microscopic organisms to large animals. This biodiversity is
essential for the health of the planet and for the survival of life on
Earth.
 These are just some of the characteristics that make Earth unique
and habitable. Earth is a truly special planet, and we should do
everything we can to protect it.
Mars
 Size: Mars is the fourth largest planet in our solar system, after
Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune. It is about half the size of Earth.
 Atmosphere: Mars has a very thin atmosphere, about 1% of the
thickness of Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere is made up
mostly of carbon dioxide, with small amounts of nitrogen, oxygen,
argon, and water vapor.
 Temperature: The average temperature on Mars is -80 degrees
Fahrenheit (-63 degrees Celsius). The coldest temperature ever
recorded on Mars was -195 degrees Fahrenheit (-87 degrees
Celsius).
 Seasons: Mars has seasons, but they are much longer than Earth's
seasons. This is because Mars' orbit around the Sun is much
longer than Earth's orbit.
 Surface features: Mars has a variety of surface features, including
volcanoes, canyons, craters, and polar ice caps.
 Moons: Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. Phobos is the
larger of the two moons and is about 17 miles (27 kilometers) in
diameter. Deimos is the smaller of the two moons and is about 14
miles (23 kilometers) in diameter.
 Water: There is evidence that Mars once had a much thicker
atmosphere and that there may have been liquid water on the
 surface. However, the water is now mostly frozen, either inComposition:
the Saturn is made mostly of hydrogen and helium,
polar ice caps or in the ground. with small amounts of other elements, such as methane and
ammonia.
Rings: Saturn is famous for its rings, which are made up of
Jupiter billions of small particles of ice and rock. The rings are not solid,
but are made up of thousands of individual ringlets.
 Mass: Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with a
Moons: Saturn has 82 moons, the largest of which is Titan. Titan
mass that is more than 2.5 times the mass of all the other
is the second-largest moon in the solar system, after Ganymede.
planets combined.
 Atmosphere: Saturn's atmosphere is very thick and cloudy. The
 Size: Jupiter is also the largest planet in terms of diameter, with a
clouds are made up of ammonia ice crystals.
circumference of about 440,000 miles (708,000 kilometers).
 Winds: Saturn has very strong winds, which can reach speeds of
 Atmosphere: Jupiter's atmosphere is made up mostly of
up to 1,800 kilometers per hour (1,100 miles per hour).
hydrogen and helium, with small amounts of other gases, such
 Magnetic field: Saturn has a strong magnetic field, which is about
as methane and ammonia.
10 times weaker than Jupiter's magnetic field.
 Core: Jupiter is thought to have a solid core made of rock and
metal, surrounded by a layer of liquid metallic hydrogen.
Uranus
 Magnetic field: Jupiter has a strong magnetic field, which is
generated by the movement of liquid metallic hydrogen in its
 It is the seventh planet from the Sun and the third-largest planet in
core.
the solar system.
 Rings: Jupiter has faint rings, made up of dust and small
 It is an ice giant, meaning that it is made up of mostly hydrogen,
particles of ice.
helium, and water ice.
 Moons: Jupiter has 80 moons, the largest of which are
 It has a very thin atmosphere, with a pressure of only about 1/100th
Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa.
of Earth's atmosphere at the surface.
 Great Red Spot: Jupiter has a giant storm called the Great Red
 The atmosphere is made up mostly of hydrogen, helium, and
Spot, which has been raging for centuries.
methane.
 Uranus has a very tilted axis, which means that it rotates on its
Saturn
side.
 This tilt causes the planet to have extreme seasons, with one pole
 Size: Saturn is the second-largest planet in our solar system,
receiving sunlight for 21 years at a time.
after Jupiter. It has a radius of 58,232 kilometers (36,184 miles),
which is about 9.5 times the radius of Earth.  Uranus has 27 moons, the largest of which are Titania, Oberon,
Ariel, and Umbriel.
 Saturn planet size comparison to EarthOpens in a new window
 It also has a system of rings, which are much fainter than Saturn's
 www.universetoday.com
rings.
 Saturn planet size comparison to Earth
 Uranus was the first planet to be discovered with the aid of a
 Mass: Saturn has a mass of 568.8 trillion metric tons, which is
telescope.
about 95 times the mass of Earth.
 It was discovered by William Herschel in 1781.
  Uranus is named after the Greek god of the sky. 14 moons. Neptune has 14 moons, the largest of which is Triton.
 Triton
Uranus has a very strong magnetic field, which is tilted about 60 is a captured Kuiper Belt object, and it is the only moon in
degrees from its axis of rotation. our solar system that orbits its planet in a retrograde direction.
 This tilted magnetic field causes Uranus to have auroras that are
much more active than Earth's auroras.
 Uranus is thought to have a solid core made of rock and ice.
 The atmosphere of Uranus is thought to be made up of mostly
hydrogen, helium, and methane.
 The temperature at the surface of Uranus is about -224 degrees
Celsius (-371 degrees Fahrenheit).

Neptune Table of the Rotation and Revolution times of the 8

Planets in our Solar System
 The farthest planet from the Sun. Neptune is the eighth and
farthest planet from the Sun in our solar system. It is about 30 Planet Rotation Period Revolution Period
times as far from the Sun as Earth is.
 The fourth largest planet. Neptune is the fourth largest planet in Mercury 58.6 days 88 days
our solar system, after Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. It has a
radius of about 15,300 miles (24,622 kilometers), which is about Venus 243 days 225 days
four times the radius of Earth.
 The coldest planet. Neptune is the coldest planet in our solar Earth 23.9 hours 365.26 days
system, with an average surface temperature of -346 degrees
Mars 24.6 hours 687 days
Fahrenheit (-200 degrees Celsius).
 An atmosphere made of hydrogen, helium, and methane. The Jupiter 9.9 hours 11.86 years
atmosphere of Neptune is made up of about 80% hydrogen, 19%
helium, and 1% methane. The methane gives Neptune its Saturn 10.7 hours 29.46 years
characteristic blue color.
 A strong magnetic field. Neptune has a strong magnetic field that Uranus 17.2 hours 84.01 years
is about 27 times stronger than Earth's. The magnetic field is
Neptune 16.1 hours 164.8 years
tilted relative to the planet's axis of rotation, which causes the
planet to have a distorted magnetic field.
 A system of rings. Neptune has a system of rings, but they are
much fainter than the rings of Saturn. The rings are made up of
small particles of ice and dust.