Welcome to our neighbourhood in space: the Solar System! In this universe of ours, we have a bright, big and warm star known as the Sun at the centre of our cosmic home. The Sun, the largest resident in our solar neighbourhood, has a pull that’s so strong, its gravity keeps all the planets moving in orbits around it, much like children spinning around in a game of Ring Around the Rosie.

To understand our Solar System better, we can divide it into two main sections. The first is the ‘Inner Planets,’ kind of like the house right next door! These are the four planets nearest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Often called the ‘rocky planets,’ they are made up of lots of rock and metal – just like a stone you might find in your backyard.

The second section is known as the ‘Outer Planets’. These are like the houses a little farther down the street. They include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the four planets further away from the Sun. Jupiter and Saturn are called the ‘Gas Giants.’ They are mostly made up of gases, primarily Hydrogen and Helium, with very little rock. Imagine a balloon that’s so big, you could live on it! Then we have Uranus and Neptune, known as the ‘Ice Giants.’ Most of their mass is made up of frozen liquids, making them giant spheres of ice, like floating snowballs in space!

THE ASTEROID BELT

Now, let’s talk about a fascinating part of our solar neighbourhood: the Asteroid Belt! It’s like a wide, rocky road that separates the inner planets from the outer planets. Located between Mars and Jupiter, the Asteroid Belt is home to thousands of rocks and asteroids, almost like pebbles scattered on a path.

And there you have it: a fun, friendly look at our neighbourhood in space! Remember, every star you see in the night sky could be a sun to another solar system, each with its own neighbourhood of planets and asteroids. Isn’t space amazing?

Mercury

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 88
Date it was discovered: Unknown But known from ancient civilisations.
Number of moons it has in its orbit: None.
Location: First planet from the sun.

Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. Temperatures on Mercury range from -173C (279F) to a staggering 427C (801F). Mercury has no atmosphere, therefore the planet has no ability to retain heat.

Venus

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 224.7
Date it was discovered: Unknown But known from ancient civilisations.
Number of moons it has in its orbit: None.
Location: Second planet from the sun.

Venus is almost the same size as Earth. This planet is no place for tourists as the atmosphere is very dense and the temperature is so high that you would be toast. This is because the planet is covered in acid. Clouds trap heat in the planets atmosphere.

Earth

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 365.2
Number of moons it has in its orbit: 1
Location: Third planet from the sun.

As we know it, Earth is the only planet in the solar system that supports life. Its temperature is perfect for life as it is perfectly positioned not too close nor too far from the sun. Earth is the only planet to have oceans on its surface and is the only planet to produce oxygen. The very gas that keeps us alive.

Mars

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 687
Date it was discovered: Unknown But known from ancient civilisations.
Number of moons it has in its orbit: 2
Location: Fourth planet from the sun.

Mars is one of our neighbouring planets. Its surface is barren with sandy, rocky desert-like landscapes. Mars has two ice caps that cover its poles. Mars is half the size of Earth and has no flowing waters.

Jupiter

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 12
Date it was discovered: Unknown But known from ancient civilisations.
Number of moons it has in its orbit: 69
Location: Fifth planet from the sun.


Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System. It is a planet made of hydrogen gas and it has many storms within its thick cloudy atmosphere. Its largest storm is called the Great Red Spot and according to scientists, the storm has been active for around 300 years. Jupiter has more moons than any other planet in our solar system.

Saturn

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 29
Date it was discovered: Unknown But known from ancient civilisations.
Number of moons it has in its orbit: 62
Location: Sixth planet from the sun.

Just like Jupiter Saturn is a gigantic gas planet also made from hydrogen gas. Saturn is so light in weight that if there was an ocean large enough it would float on top. Saturn’s beautiful rings are made from billions of small icy particles orbiting the planet.

Uranus

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 84
Date it was discovered: 1781
Number of moons it has in its orbit: 27
Location: Seventh planet from the sun.

An astronomer named William Herschel first discovered Uranus in 1781. The planet is to believe to be made from water and ice and has 13 dark rings. Uranus seems to spin on its side which seems rather odd. It is like a bottle that has fallen over. Some scientists believe that it is a result of a heavy impact long ago.

Neptune

Earth days it takes to orbit the sun: 165
Date it was discovered: 1846
Number of moons it has in its orbit: 14
Location: Eighth planet from the sun.

Neptune is a cold and icy planet and no wonder when it is 30 times further away from the Sun than Earth. The has an extreme weather front from huge storms and very strong winds. A day on this ice ball last 16 hours and 7 minutes and has five dark thin rings within its orbit.

Make an effort to answer all the questions accurately. Keep in mind that all the answers can be found within the information provided above, so if you’re uncertain about any of the responses, feel free to go back and review the article. Thorough reading aids in deeper comprehension and more accurate answers.