1. The Cliff Notes Version See Chapter 21
The Solar System
The Cliff Notes Version
See Chapter 21

2. Contents: 1 star (the Sun) 8 planets Moons Dwarf Planets Asteroids
Meteoroids
Comets
Trash we put into space

3. Measuring in the S.S. Everything is compared to Earth
Example: distance is measured in astronomical units (AU) or the average distance b/t Earth and the Sun (150,000,000 km)
Earth = 1 AU while Pluto = 40 AU

4. General Info
Most objects rotate & revolve counterclockwise or prograde
A few rotate clockwise or retrograde
Nothing is perfectly spherical
Farther you are from the Sun the slower you revolve.

5. Organization of the S.S. Divided into inner and outer planets
The asteroid belt separates them
Comets are way out beyond Pluto

6. The order:
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

7. A mnemonic to help remember the order
M-y
V-egetarian
E-mu
M-akes
J-ust
S-pectacular
U-nicorn
N-uggets