Our Solar System

Planets in order from smallest to largest – skip Pluto

Mercury – terrestrial planet It has almost no atmosphere, so meteors hit its surface. It is as pockmarked as our moon.

Venus – terrestrial planet hottest of all the planets Venus – terrestrial planet hottest of all the planets. Its atmosphere is toxic

Earth – terrestrial planet More than 2/3 of planet is covered by water Earth – terrestrial planet More than 2/3 of planet is covered by water. It has an atmosphere that that can sustain life as we know it.

Mars – terrestrial planet The iron oxide dust on Mars gives it a reddish tint. It is similar to earth – it has riverbeds and mountains. It has some water on its surface.

Jupiter – gaseous planet The largest planet – It has no hard surface Jupiter – gaseous planet The largest planet – It has no hard surface. Has a giant red spot on it – a storm that has raged for hundreds of years! Jupiter has dozens of moons.

Saturn – gaseous planet Is famous for its rings, which are made of ice and rock.

Uranus – gaseous planet Its equator is almost at a right angle to its orbit

Neptune – gaseous planet Has very strong winds – 1,500mph Neptune – gaseous planet Has very strong winds – 1,500mph! Has a rocky core

Poor little Pluto! In 2006 it was determined that Pluto was not big enough to be considered a planet. It became known as a dwarf planet.