A quick trip around our Solar System

The Sun Closest Star to the Earth Primary Source of energy for the solar system Most hydrogen Closest Star to the Earth Primary Source of energy for the solar system Most hydrogen

The Sun Very large, Very Hot More than a million times the size of the Earth Earth is the little blue dot in the upper right hand corner Very large, Very Hot More than a million times the size of the Earth Earth is the little blue dot in the upper right hand corner

Mercury First planet from the Sun Very hot, Very small No liquid Water First planet from the Sun Very hot, Very small No liquid Water

Mercury One side boils while the other side freezes Most difficult planet for humans to visit One side boils while the other side freezes Most difficult planet for humans to visit

Venus Second planet from the Sun Very hot, Very thick atmosphere Similar in size to Earth Second planet from the Sun Very hot, Very thick atmosphere Similar in size to Earth

Venus Rotates on axis in the opposite direction of the other planets Run away greenhouse effect No liquid water Rotates on axis in the opposite direction of the other planets Run away greenhouse effect No liquid water

Earth Third planet from the Sun Liquid water on the surface Only known place in universe with intelligent life Third planet from the Sun Liquid water on the surface Only known place in universe with intelligent life

Earth First planet from the Sun with a moon Largest moon vs. planet size in solar system First planet from the Sun with a moon Largest moon vs. planet size in solar system

Mars Forth planet from the Sun Very cold, Very dry No liquid water on surface Forth planet from the Sun Very cold, Very dry No liquid water on surface

Mars Has two small moons Sizes that some liquid flowed over surface in recent geological past Has two small moons Sizes that some liquid flowed over surface in recent geological past

Asteroid Belt Possible remains of another planet Or leftovers that never finish forming into another inner planet Possible remains of another planet Or leftovers that never finish forming into another inner planet

Asteroid Belt Smaller asteroids collide together to form larger asteroids After a great period of time a new planet can form Smaller asteroids collide together to form larger asteroids After a great period of time a new planet can form

Jupiter Fifth planet from the Sun Largest planet in the solar system Famous for the great red spot Fifth planet from the Sun Largest planet in the solar system Famous for the great red spot

Jupiter About 17 moons Galilean satellites are the four largest moons Three of those four might have liquid water and maybe life About 17 moons Galilean satellites are the four largest moons Three of those four might have liquid water and maybe life

Saturn Sixth planet from the Sun Second largest planet in the solar system Famous for the great rings Sixth planet from the Sun Second largest planet in the solar system Famous for the great rings

Saturn About 26 moons Largest moon Titan is very similar to a very young Earth Huygens probe landed on Titan in January 2005 About 26 moons Largest moon Titan is very similar to a very young Earth Huygens probe landed on Titan in January 2005

Uranus Seventh planet from the Sun Very cold, Very dark Frozen gas giant Seventh planet from the Sun Very cold, Very dark Frozen gas giant

Uranus About 22 moons Rotates about its axis on its side compared to the other planets No liquid water About 22 moons Rotates about its axis on its side compared to the other planets No liquid water

Neptune Eighth planet from the Sun Frozen gas giant Very cold, Very Blue Eighth planet from the Sun Frozen gas giant Very cold, Very Blue

Neptune About 8 moons Any future missions to Neptune will include probes that will float in the high winds of Neptune and land on the surface of its largest moon Triton About 8 moons Any future missions to Neptune will include probes that will float in the high winds of Neptune and land on the surface of its largest moon Triton

Pluto Former ninth planet and now a dwarf planet Very cold, very dark, and very far away Former ninth planet and now a dwarf planet Very cold, very dark, and very far away

Pluto If you could stand on the surface of Pluto and look back at the Sun, it would look like any other star in the sky

Kuiper Belt Object out around Pluto are called Kuiper Belt Objects or KBO’s They are small icy objects Object out around Pluto are called Kuiper Belt Objects or KBO’s They are small icy objects

Kuiper Belt Over 900 KBO’s have been discovered since 1990 Most of the larger ones are about the size of Pluto Over 900 KBO’s have been discovered since 1990 Most of the larger ones are about the size of Pluto

And Beyond…. Beyond the KBO’s is another region called the Oort cloud Anything beyond 50 AU is in the Oort Cloud 1 AU is equal to the distance between the Earth and the Sun Beyond the KBO’s is another region called the Oort cloud Anything beyond 50 AU is in the Oort Cloud 1 AU is equal to the distance between the Earth and the Sun

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