Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

TheSolarSystem

TheSun:- Thesunisthecenterofoursolarsystem.Alltheotherplanetsorbitaroundthesun.- Thesunisprimarilymadeoftwogases,hydrogenandhelium.- Itis4.6BILLIONyearsoldandthesurfacetemperatureisaround5500°C(9932°F).- OverONEMILLIONEarthscouldfitinsidethesun.It’sREALLYbig.- ThesunisclassifiedasaYellowDwarfStar.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Mercury:- Mercuryistheclosestplanettothesun.- Mercuryisthesmallestplanet.- SinceMercuryissmallerthanEarthithaslessgravitysoyourweightonMercurywould

be38%ofwhatitisonEarth.- AdayonthesurfaceofMercuryis176Earthdays.- Mercurydoesnothaveanymoonsorrings.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Venus:- Venusisthesecondplanetfromthesun,itisalsothebrightestobjectinEarth’ssky

afterthesunandmoon.- OnedayonVenusislongerthanoneyearonEarth.- ThesurfacetemperatureonVenusis462°C(863.6°F).- Mostplanetsrotatecounter-clockwiseontheiraxis,however,Venusrotatesclockwise.- VenusistheclosestplanettoEarth.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Earth:- Earthisthethirdplanetfromthesun.- Ittakesabout365days(1year)fortheEarthtomakeacompleterotationaroundthe

sun.- Earthistheonlyplanetnotnamedafteramythologicalgodorgoddess.- ThegravitybetweentheEarthandthemooncreatethetides(theriseandfallofthesea

levels).- 70%oftheEarth’ssurfaceiscoveredbywater.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Mars:- Marsisthesecondsmallestplanetinthesolarsystem.- Thetallestmountaininthesolarsystemisonmars,OlympusMonsis21km(68,897ft.)

high,that’s2.37timestheheightofMountEverest.- Thesunlooksabouthalfit’ssizefromMarsasitdoesfromEarth.- Ittakesmars687Earthdaystocompleteanorbitaroundthesun.- MarshasseasonslikeEarthbuttheylasttwiceaslong.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Jupiter:- Jupiteristhelargestplanetinthesolarsystem,itis318timesthesizeofEarth.- Jupiterhastheshortestdaysofalltheplanets,thedayonlylastsaround9hoursand55

minutes.- ThegreatredspotonJupiterisagiantstormthathasragedfor350years.Thespotisso

largethat3Earthscouldfitinsideit.- Jupiter’smoon,Ganymede,isthelargestmooninthesolarsystem,it’slargerthanthe

planetMercury.- Jupiterhasuniquecloudfeatures,it’supperatmosphereisdividedintocloudbeltsand

zones,theyaremadeprimarilyofammoniacrystalsandsulfur.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Saturn:- Saturnisbestknownforit’sringsystem.Ithasover30ringsmademostlyoficechunks,

rocks,anddust.- Saturnhas150moonsandmoonletsthatareallfrozen.- Saturnhasamassthatis95timesthemassofEarth.- AyearonSaturnisabout29.4yearsonEarth.- Saturnismadeupofmostlyhydrogen.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Uranus:- Uranuswasthefirstplanetdiscoveredbyatelescope.- Ithas13ringsand27moons.- Uranusisaboutthesizeof15Earths.- Uranus,likeVenus,rotatesclockwiseonit’saxis.- AdayonUranusisonly17hoursand14minutes.

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Neptune:- Neptuneisthelastplanetinthesolarsystem,thefurthestawayfromthesun.- Ittakes164.8EarthdaysforNeptunetoorbitaroundthesun.- Neptunehas14moonsand5rings.- TheclimateonNeptuneisveryactive,largestormssweepacrossit.Thelargeststorm

wastheGreatDarkSpotin1989whichlastedabout5years.- TheaveragetemperatureonNeptuneis-214°C(-353°F).

Sources:https://theplanets.orghttp://space-facts.comhttp://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet

Pluto:- Plutousedtobeconsideredthe9thplanetinthesolarsystem,however,itisnow

classifiedasadwarfplanetbecauseit’sgravitydoesnotsweepandclearthespacearounditasitorbits.Thedefinitionofaplanetchangedin2006sothatitnowrequiresthatthegravityofaplanetsweepandclearthespacearounditasitorbitsinordertobeconsideredaplanetthereforePlutoisnolongeraplanet.

- Plutohas5moons.- Plutoisverysmall,only17%thesizeofEarth’smoon.- Plutoisonethirdwaterandcontains3timesmorewaterthanallofEarth’soceans.The

othertwothirdsarerockmostlycoveredwithice.- Inthe76yearsbetweenthediscoveryofPlutoanditsreclassificationin2006,Plutoonly

completedonethirdofit’sorbitaroundthesun.