EARTH Spins around the sun on its AXIS. This is called the ROTATION of earth. It tilts and the revolution causes SEASONS! It is an INNER planet.

MERCURY Second smallest planet. Closest planet to the sun Its surface is scarred by craters. Is an INNER planet.

VENUS Its surface is surrounded by thick clouds. Second closest planet to the sun It is an INNER planet.

MARS Iron oxide, known as rust, is found in its rocks. Fourth planet from the sun Is an INNER planet.

JUPITER Fifth planet from the sun Largest planet Has the shortest day Is an OUTER planet.

SATURN Sixth planet from the sun. Orbited by at least 30 moons. OUTER planet.

URANUS Seventh planet from the sun Is an OUTER planet Has rings

NEPTUNE Eighth planet from the sun. Is an OUTER planet. Known as a gas planet.

PLUTO Now known as a “Dwarf Planet” Smaller than Earth’s moon

Earth’s Moon Takes 28 days to orbit the Earth. Wane: Wax: Eclipse:

Asteroids Pieces of rock. Made of minerals similar to those that formed rocky planets and moons

SUN The distance from Earth to the sun is measured in ASTRONOMICAL UNITS.

STARS Scientists believe they began as huge clouds of gas and dust. A group of stars that form a pattern is a CONSTELLATION. Scientist infer there are 100 billion stars in the universe.

COMETS Large body of ice and rock They appear to glow Travel in an elliptical orbit.

GALAXIES Made of: Stars, gas and dust. Shapes are: Spiral, Elliptical and Irregular We live in the Milky Way Galaxy. It is Spiral. You can’t see the entire Milky Way from Earth because Earth is INSIDE the Milky Way.