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The Sun and
the Eight
Planets
At the center of our
Solar System is the
Sun.
The Sun is almost
900,000 miles in
diameter.
About 115 Earth’s
could fit across the
Sun.
Here’s a picture of
Venus in front of the
Sun.
Video of the Transit
of Venus.
The Rocky Planets
Mercury is the
closest planet to the
Sun.
It is the smallest
planet in the Solar
System.
Mercury.
Venus is the 2nd planet
th
from the Sun & the 6
largest planet in the Solar
System.
rd
3
Earth is the
th
planet and the 5
largest planet.
th
4
Mars is the
planet from the Sun
th
and the 7 largest.
Questions about
Mars.
Why is Mars Red?
Characteristics of
Rocky Planets:
Small (less than 8,500
miles in diameter).
Long days (24 hours to
243 days).
Characteristics of
Rocky Planets:
Short years (2 years to
88 days).
Few moons (Mars -2;
Earth – 1; Mercury &
Venus -0).
The Gas Giants
th
5
Jupiter is the
planet from the Sun
and the largest planet.
Jupiter’s own little
Solar System.
Jupiter’s Red Spot.
th
6
Saturn is the
planet from the Sun
nd
and the 2 largest.
Wonders of the
Solar System –
Saturn.
th
7
Uranus is the
planet from the Sun
rd
and the 3 largest.
Rings of Uranus.
Neptune is the 8th planet
th
from the Sun and the 4
largest planet.
Neptune’s storms.
Characteristics of
the Gas Giants.
Large – 88,000 miles
to 30,000 miles.
Short days – 10
hours to 17 hours.
Characteristics of
the Gas Giants.
Long years – 12 years
to 165 years.
Many moons – 27 to
63.