Our Solar System A solar system is a group of objects in space that orbit a star in the center. The sun is the star in the center of our solar system.

The Sun The sun is a star that is a huge ball of superheated gases. The sun is the largest object in the solar system.

Mercury Mercury is about the size of Earth’s moon and is covered with craters. For example, it can be 450 degrees celsius on Mercury which is hot enough to melt lead.

venus Venus is about the size of Earth. Venus is the brightest object seen from earth.

earth Earth is the largest of the inner planets. Only Earth has liquid water on its surface and a large amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.

mars Mars is called the red planet because it looks fiery red from Earth. It has huge dust storms that can last for months.

Asteroid belt Most asteroids orbit the sun in a belt between Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids are bits of rock and metal.

jupiter Jupiter has at least 63 moons.

saturn Saturn has rings that are visible from Earth through a telescope.

Uranus Uranus rotates on it’s side as it orbits the sun.

neptune Neptune’s atmosphere is mainly hydrogen and helium.

Dwarf planet pluto Tiny Pluto has a rocky surface covered with nitrogen.