SUN SUN The sun is a ball of hot gas. The sun has its own gravitational field which is strong enough to keep the eight planets in its family. The sun is a ball of hot gas. The sun has its own gravitational field which is strong enough to keep the eight planets in its family.

MERCURY MERCURY Mercury is the first planet from the sun. A year on mercury is 365 Earth days. Mercury has a surface made of rocks. Mercury is the first planet from the sun. A year on mercury is 365 Earth days. Mercury has a surface made of rocks.

VENUS VENUS A day on Venus is 243 Earth days. Venus also spins backwards around its axis. It takes Venus 225 days to orbit the sun.

EARTH Earth is the only planet with life in it. Earth is the only planet with water too. Earth has seasons. Earth spins like a top on its axis. Earth’s axis is an imaginary line that goes through Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. Earth’s axis is slightly tipped, like a spinning top leaning to one. Earth is the only planet with life in it. Earth is the only planet with water too. Earth has seasons. Earth spins like a top on its axis. Earth’s axis is an imaginary line that goes through Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole. Earth’s axis is slightly tipped, like a spinning top leaning to one.

MARS Mars is also known as the red planet. Mars is a rocky planet. Mars is half the size of Earth. Mars has enormous craters. Mars is also known as the red planet. Mars is a rocky planet. Mars is half the size of Earth. Mars has enormous craters.

JUPITER Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system. Jupiter has its own small solar system.

SATURN SATURN Saturn’s rings are made of dust and rocks. Saturn has more than 1 ring. Saturn is the second biggest planet. Saturn’s rings are made of dust and rocks. Saturn has more than 1 ring. Saturn is the second biggest planet.

URANUS You could not breathe in Uranus. The atmosphere there is made of hydrogen gas and helium gas. You could not breathe in Uranus. The atmosphere there is made of hydrogen gas and helium gas.

NEPTUNE NEPTUNE A gas called methane makes the atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus look the same. A gas called methane makes the atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus look the same.