By Jakob Shaw

The Solar System contains the sun, eight planets and their moons, dwarf planets and other small objects such as asteroids, comets and meteorites. The Solar System contains the sun, eight planets and their moons, dwarf planets and other small objects such as asteroids, comets and meteorites.the sunplanetsdwarf planets the sunplanetsdwarf planets The Sun is the centre of the Solar System and everything else orbits around it. The Sun is the centre of the Solar System and everything else orbits around it. The four inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are made up of balls of rock and metal. The four inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are made up of balls of rock and metal.Mercury, VenusEarth and MarsMercury, VenusEarth and Mars The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn,Jupiter, SaturnJupiter, Saturn Uranus and Neptune) Uranus and Neptune)Uranus and NeptuneUranus and Neptune are giant balls of gas and liquid. are giant balls of gas and liquid. The astro belt keeps the The astro belt keeps the inner and outer planets apart. inner and outer planets apart.

The sun is a star and makes 99% of the Solar Systems mass. It is made up of hydrogen gas. The sun is a star and makes 99% of the Solar Systems mass. It is made up of hydrogen gas.the Solar Systemsthe Solar Systems At its core it continually explodes (bigger than a nuclear bomb) creating pure heat and light. At its core it continually explodes (bigger than a nuclear bomb) creating pure heat and light. The temperature at the core The temperature at the core is 15 million*C and 6 000*C is 15 million*C and 6 000*C on the surface. on the surface. The sun is about 5 billion The sun is about 5 billion years old and has enough years old and has enough energy to shine for another energy to shine for another 5 billion years. 5 billion years.

Planet MaterialsAtmosphereTemperature Distance from sun Time to orbit (In Earth years) Number of moons diameterMercury Rock and metal Argon, neon and helium -180*C to 430*C 58 million km 88 days O 4 874km Venus Rock and metal Very thick carbon dioxide 460*C 108 million km 224 days and 17 hours O km Earth Rock and metal Nitrogen and oxygen -88*C to 58*C 150 million km 365 days and 6 hours km Mars Rock and metal Thin carbon dioxide -125*C to 24*C 225 million km 687 days and 23 hours km Jupiter Gas and liquid Hydrogen and helium -110*C 772 million km 11 years and 11 months km Saturn Gas and liquid Hydrogen and helium -140*C million km 29 years and 5 months km Uranus Gas and liquid Hydrogen, helium and methane -215*C million km 84 years km Neptune Gas and liquid Hydrogen, helium and methane -195*C million km 164 years km

Mercury: Origin of name, ‘Messenger of the Roman Gods’. Mercury: Origin of name, ‘Messenger of the Roman Gods’. It has little atmosphere so its surface is covered with craters because asteroids collide with it. It has little atmosphere so its surface is covered with craters because asteroids collide with it. It has the widest range of temperature than any other planet (-180*C to 430*C). It has the widest range of temperature than any other planet (-180*C to 430*C). Venus: Origin of name, ‘Roman Goddess of love and beauty’. Venus: Origin of name, ‘Roman Goddess of love and beauty’. It has the longest day of any planet, 243 earth days. It has the longest day of any planet, 243 earth days. The sun rises in the west and sets in the east (opposite to other planets in the solar system). The sun rises in the west and sets in the east (opposite to other planets in the solar system). the solar system the solar system

Earth: Origin of name, a Saxon word for ground. Earth: Origin of name, a Saxon word for ground. It is the only planet in the Solar system were life has been found. It is the only planet in the Solar system were life has been found. Solar system Solar system Man made structures such as the great wall of China and pyramids can be spotted while orbiting the earth. Man made structures such as the great wall of China and pyramids can be spotted while orbiting the earth. Mars: Origin of name after the Roman God of war and also known as the ‘red planet’ because of the rusty rock and red sand. Mars: Origin of name after the Roman God of war and also known as the ‘red planet’ because of the rusty rock and red sand. Can have Tornadoes as large as 8km high. Can have Tornadoes as large as 8km high. It is the planet most like Earth it’s rocky with an iron core, atmosphere, weather, seasons and polar icecaps. It is the planet most like Earth it’s rocky with an iron core, atmosphere, weather, seasons and polar icecaps. ice cap ice cap

Jupiter: Origin of name, ‘King of Roman Gods’. Jupiter: Origin of name, ‘King of Roman Gods’. It is the largest planet in our solar system and could contain all of the planets combined. It is the largest planet in our solar system and could contain all of the planets combined. solar system solar system The red spot on Jupiter is a Hurricane twice as big as Earth and has been raging for several centuries. The red spot on Jupiter is a Hurricane twice as big as Earth and has been raging for several centuries.redspot Saturn: Origin of name, ‘Roman God of agriculture’. Also known as ‘lord of the rings’. Saturn: Origin of name, ‘Roman God of agriculture’. Also known as ‘lord of the rings’. It has the most spectacular ring system. The rings consist of billions of chunks of ice. It has the most spectacular ring system. The rings consist of billions of chunks of ice. As it is mostly made of light hydrogen gas it could float in water and you would not be able to land on it. As it is mostly made of light hydrogen gas it could float in water and you would not be able to land on it.

Uranus: Origin of name, ‘Greek God of the sky’. Uranus: Origin of name, ‘Greek God of the sky’. It is the only planet that spins on it’s side and rolls around its orbit. It is the only planet that spins on it’s side and rolls around its orbit. It also has rings but can only be seen when they block the light of other stars beyond the solar system. It also has rings but can only be seen when they block the light of other stars beyond the solar system.the solar system.the solar system. Neptune: Origin of name, ‘Roman God of the sea’. Neptune: Origin of name, ‘Roman God of the sea’. It has the fastest winds in the solar system at over 2000km a hour. It has the fastest winds in the solar system at over 2000km a hour. Its vivid blue colour is a mystery. Its vivid blue colour is a mystery.

Dwarf Planets: Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet because of its small size and distant location. Dwarf Planets: Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet because of its small size and distant location. Dwarf Planets: Dwarf Planets: It also overlaps Neptune's orbit because it orbits around the sun in a long elliptical (oval shape) manner rather than a circular one like the other planets. It also overlaps Neptune's orbit because it orbits around the sun in a long elliptical (oval shape) manner rather than a circular one like the other planets. Pluto: Pluto: Pluto is named after the Roman God of the underworld. It has one large moon called Charon and two very small moons Nix and Hydra. Pluto is found in the Kuiper belt with other Dwarf planets such as 2003EL61, Eris and Sedna. The first probe is due to visit Pluto The first probe is due to visit Pluto in July 2015 so more will be known in July 2015 so more will be known then. then.

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