Download We live in a solar system that consists of a star we call the Sun and

Our Solar
System
We live in a solar system that consists of a star we call the Sun and nine planets and their moons plus
numerous comets, asteroids and meteoroids. Our solar system is part of the Milky Way, a galaxy made up
of billions of stars, and just one of billions of galaxies known to be traveling through intergalactic space.
ORDER OF PLANETS FROM THE SUN AND COMPARATIVE PLANET SIZES
MERCURY
Smallest planet in
our solar system.
0.39 AU.
EARTH
The only livable planet
in our solar system.
1.0 AU.
JUPITER
Largest planet in our solar
system. Over a thousand
times larger than Earth.
5.2 AU.
NEPTUNE
Extremely cold.
30.1 AU.
SATURN
Lightest planet with
many rings.
9.5 AU.
SUN
VENUS
Closest planet
to Earth.
0.72 AU.
MARS
Half the size of Earth,
has two moons.
1.5 AU.
URANUS
Sixty four times the size
of Earth.
19.2 AU.
PLUTO
Actually a dwarf planet
and hardly visible even with
a powerful telescope.
39.5 AU.
DEFINITIONS
Asteroid Minor planet.
Comets Balls of dusty ice that orbit the Sun.
Galaxy A catherine wheel made up from billions of stars which the Sun is one.
Meteorite Pieces of rock or metal which strike Earth’s atmosphere.
Eclipse When the Moon blocks the sunlight to the Earth (Solar Eclipse) or when the Earth blocks the sunlight to the Moon (Lunar Eclipse).
Atmosphere A mixture of gases that surround any celestial body that has a gravitational field.
Solar System Made up of planets and moons that orbit a sun.
Light Year The distance that light travels in one year, just under ten trillion kilometers.
Astronomical Unit (AU) The average distance from the Earth to the Sun. One AU is 149,597,870 kilometers.