The Solar System
++The Solar System is made up of the Sun, Planets and their moons.++The moons rotate around the planets while the planets revolve around the sun.
++The path the planet takes around the sun is called an orbit.++The orbit is elliptical in shape and the planets are spherical in shape.++The time a planet takes to revolve around the sun is called a year.++We use this gem to remember the order of the planets….. My Very Elegant Mother Just Served Us Noodles Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
Mercury – Mercury is closest to the sun and is a very hot planet but NOT the hottest. It is one of the four inner planets and also one of the four rocky planets. Mercury has no moons. Mercury’s year is 88 earth days.
Venus - Venus is the hottest planet. It is also the brightest planet and is called The Morning and Evening Star Planet. It is the closest planet to earth. It is one of the four inner planets and also one of the four rocky planets. Venus has no moons and Venus’ year is 225 earth days.
Earth – Earth has one moon. Earth is made up of land and water. Earth is made up of 71% water and 29% land. Earth is one of the four inner planets and also one of the four rocky planets. Earth contains oxygen and therefore can support life. Earth’s year is 365 ¼ days.
Mars – Mars is the fourth of the inner and rocky planets and is fourth from the sun. Mars has two moons called Phobos and Deimos. Mars’ year is 687 earth days.
Jupiter – Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It has a red spot and over 60 moons. It is one of the four outer planets and also one of the four gaseous planets. Jupiter takes 11.9 years to orbit (revolve) the sun.
Saturn – Saturn is the second largest planet. Saturn has a ring around it and is called the ‘ringed planet’. Similarly to Jupiter, Saturn has over 60 moons although Jupiter has the most moons. Saturn takes 29 ½ years to orbit the sun. It is also one of the outer and gaseous planets.
Uranus – Uranus is the third largest planet. As one of the outer and gaseous planets it is the coldest planet. Uranus has 21 moons and takes 84 years to orbit the sun.
Neptune – Neptune is the fourth largest planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth outer and gaseous planet. It has 30 moons and takes 167.8 years to orbit the sun. Neptune is one of the coldest planets.
