The Planets in Our Solar System
We live in the Solar System, which consists of the Sun and all the smaller planets the move around it.
Mercury is the planet in our Solar System that is the closest to the Sun, which means that it is very hot on the planet’s surface. Although it is a planet, its atmosphere is more like our moon, because it is rocky and has many craters. It has no atmosphere, so the heat escapes during the night and the temperatures drop to below zero. Mercury also has very low gravity.
Venus is the planet after Mercury, and it has many active volcanoes, thick clouds, and an atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide. Its gravity is very similar to Earth’s gravity, and there is no water on the surface of the planet.
Earth is our planet, and the only planet with life in the Solar System. It is called the “Blue Planet”, because of how much water is on the surface. Earth is the perfect distance from the Sun to foster human life.
Mars is called the “Red Planet” because it is covered with rust-colored dust. It has a rocky surface, and weak gravity. NASA has sent many rovers to Mars to collect information, because it is the next most habitable planet after Earth.
Jupiter is the biggest planet in the Solar System, and it has a big red spot on the side, which is a gas storm, as well as many other gas storms. Jupiter has a strong magnetic force, meaning that if a person was on the surface of Jupiter, they would weigh much more.
Uranus is a planet that is a light blue color because it has a high amount of methane gas, and it was the first planet discovered using a telescope. The atmosphere of Uranus hides the planet’s surface, but inside the atmosphere scientists speculate that it is an ocean of water.
Neptune is a bright blue planet with wild weather patterns, and it is very large. It has wispy white clouds on its outer surface.
Pluto is no longer officially recognized as a planet. It is the longest and furthest from the Sun, and is very cold, so it is a rock with a very thick ice layer.
Photo Source: Wikipedia
