The Solar System

1. The Sun

1.1. The Sun is the star in our Solar System

2. Mercury

2.1. Is the closest planet to the Sun. It is the smallest planet and is made of rock.

3. Venus

3.1. Is the next planet from the Sun after Mercury. It is also made of rock. Venus is the hottest planet.

4. Earth

4.1. This is where we live! Earth is made of rock and is the only planet where water is liquid. The other planets are either too hot or too cold. Earth takes 365 days to travel around the Sun.

5. Mars

5.1. Mars is a little smaller than Earth, but a lot further out. Mars is reddish in colour and is sometimes called ‘The Red Planet’.

6. Jupiter

6.1. Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System. You could fit 1,321 Earths inside Jupiter. It is made of gas and is one of the four ‘gas giants’.

7. Saturn

7.1. Saturn is famous for its rings. Saturn is the second largest planet in the Solar System and is another one of the ‘gas giants’ like Jupiter.

8. Uranus

8.1. Uranus is another of the ‘gas giants’. You could fit 63 planets the size of Earth inside Uranus. Uranus takes 84 years to orbit the Sun and is the coldest planet.

9. Neptune

9.1. Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun. It is 30 times as far from the sun as Earth and takes 165 years to travel around the Sun.

10. Read the descriptions carefully. Complete the following: 1.The first planet is __________ It is closest to the Sun. 2.The second planet is __________It is the brightest planet. 3.The third planet is__________ We live on The Blue Planet. 4.The fourth planet is __________ It is the Red Planet. 5.The fifth planet is __________ It is the largest planet. 6.The sixth planet is __________It has thousands of rings. 7.The seventh planet is __________ It is covered with blue and green fog. 8.The eighth planet is __________ It is the furthest planet from the Sun.