What is the closest planet to the sun?
Planets are large round objects that orbit the Sun. There are eight planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The four inner planets are rocky and the four outer planets are made mostly of gas.
Exploring Planets
Planet - A celestial body that orbits around a star, has enough mass to be rounded by its own gravity, and has cleared its neighborhood of other objects. Rotation - The process of a planet spinning around its axis. Revolution - The process of a planet orbiting around the sun.
Concepts:
What is the most interesting planet in our solar system?
- Jupiter
- Mars
- Saturn
- Neptune
- Earth
- Other
The solar system is home to more than fifty moons that are larger than 100 km in diameter. The temperature on Venus is hotter than Mercury, despite Mercury being closer to the Sun. Venus is the only planet in our Solar System that spins clockwise on its axis.
Did you know?
What are the most interesting facts you know about the planets in our solar system?
What similarities and differences do you see between the planets?
What factors determine whether a planet can support life?
What have you learned about the planets so far?
How does this topic relate to your everyday life?