The Solar System

Introduction
A solar system consists of a star and
objects that revolve around it.
Our Solar System consists of the Sun
and nine known planets and the moons
that orbit those planets.
The force of gravity keeps planets in
orbit around the sun.

The Sun
It is over one million times larger
than Earth.
It is eight light minutes away from
Earth or 92,957,000 miles.
The temperature is 15 million degrees
K. One K = 13-25 million degrees!

The Nine Known Planets

The Inner Planets

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars

The Outer Planets

Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto

Mercury
Closest planet to the
sun
Approximately half the
size of Earth
Rocky surface covered
by craters
No water or air results
in unchanged appearance
Surface temperatures
are hot enough to melt
lead

Uranus
Seventh planet
from the Sun
Four times larger in
diameter than the
Earth
Blue-green in color
The tilt of the axis
causes sunlight for
42 years at a time

Venus
Second planet from
the Sun
Approximately the
same size as the
Earth
Atmosphere
consists of
poisonous gases

Earth
Third planet from
the Sun
Largest of the four
inner planets
Only planet where
life is known to
exist
70% of the surface
is covered by water

Mars
Fourth planet from
the Sun
Approximately half
the size of Earth
Known as the Red
Planet
Has four seasons
similar to Earth
Resembles Earth more
than any other planet

Jupiter
Fifth planet form
the Sun
Largest planet in
our Solar System
1300 Earths could
fit inside Jupiter
Doesnt have a
surface; made of
gases

Saturn
Sixth planet from
the Sun
Second largest
planet
800 Earths could
fit inside Saturn
Thousands of rings
are made up of ice
and rock fragments

Neptune
Eighth planet form
the Sun
Four times larger in
diameter than the
Earth
Blue in color

Pluto
Ninth planet from
the Sun
Smallest of the
planets
Coldest planet
Unusual orbit
caused it to be the
8th planet from
1979 - 1999!

Lets compare the

planets to Earth

A day on :
Mercury =
3 Earth months
Venus
=
117 Earth days
Mars =
41 minutes longer than
an Earth day
Jupiter
=
10 Earth hours
Saturn
=
10 Earth hours
Uranus
=
13 Earth hours
Neptune =
18 Earth hours
Pluto =
7 Earth days

If you weigh 85 lbs. On Earth,

you weigh:

32 lbs on Mercury
77 lbs on Venus
32 lbs on Mars
244 lbs on Jupiter
112 lbs on Saturn
79 lbs on Uranus
105 lbs on Neptune
2.5 lbs on Pluto

The Orbital Speed of the Planets

Mercury =
Venus =
Earth
=
Mars
=
Jupiter =
Saturn =
Uranus =
Neptune =
Pluto
=

30 miles per second

22 miles per second
19 miles per second
15 miles per second
8 miles per second
6 miles per second
4.2 miles per second
3.3 miles per second
2.9 miles per second

Therefore, the further away from the Sun, the slower the orbital
speed.

The Earth has one Moon.

How many moons do the other planets have?

Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
The Moon

0
0
2
17
22
15
2
1

It takes 365 days for Earth to revolve

around the Sun.
How long does it take the other planets?

Mercury Venus Mars

Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto
-

88 Earth days
225 Earth days
about 2 Earth years
11.8 Earth years
30 Earth years
84 Earth years
165 Earth years
248 Earth years