1. The Solar System By Julie Dort

2. The Solar System n Our solar system consists of: the sun n the nine planets (and their moons) n It also has an asteroid belt, and many comets and meteors.

3. The Moon n The moon is a cold, dry orb whose surface is studded with craters and strewn with rocks and dust. n The moon dust is called regolith.

4. SUN n Our sun is a star located at the center of our solar system. n It is a huge, spinning ball of hot gas and nuclear reactions that lights up the Earth and provides us with heat.

5. Mercury n Mercury is the planet closest to the sun in our solar system. n It is small, rocky planet has almost no atmosphere.

6. VENUS n Venus is the second planet from the sun in our solar system. n It is the hottest planet in our Solar System.

7. EARTH n The Earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system. n It is the planet we evolved on and the only planet in our Solar System that is known to support life.

8. MARS n Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. n It is about half the size of Earth. n It has a dry, rocky surface and a very thin atmosphere.

9. JUPITER n Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet in our solar system. n This gas giant has a thick atmosphere, 17 moons, and a dark, barely-visible ring.

10. SATURN n Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system. n It is the second-largest planet in our solar system.

11. URANUS n Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system. n This huge, icy planet is covered with clouds and is encircled by a belt of 11 rings and 18 moons.

12. NEPTUNE n Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun in our solar system. n This giant, frigid planet has a hazy atmosphere and strong winds.

13. PLUTO n Pluto is the ninth and usually the farthest planet from the sun in our solar system. n It also the smallest planet in our solar system and the last to be discovered.

14. COMETS AND ASTEROIDS n A comet is a small, icy celestial body that orbits around the sun. It is made up of a nucleus, a gaseous coma and a tail. n The tail can be up to 250 million km long. n Asteroids are rocky or metallic objects, most of which orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

15. THE SOLAR SYSTEM n Test your knowledge about the solar system by filling out a quiz. n Just click on the check mark and it will take you to the quiz. n Please do not do questions 9, 11, and 15.

16. Credits: pictures, information and quiz n http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subject s/astronomy/ n http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild /solar_system_level1/solar_system.html n http://www.enchantedlearning.com/classroo m/quiz/solarsystem.shtml