The solar system

• The characteristics of planets


  • Orbit
  • Size
  • Distance from the Sun
  • Temperature
  • Period of revolution around the Sun
• Orbit


  What are the orbits of all the planets? The Sun
• Size


  • What is the biggest planet? Jupiter
  • What is the smallest planet? Mercury
• Distance from the Sun

  • What planet is the closest to the Sun? Mercury
  • What planet is the furthest to the Sun? Neptune
• Temperature


  • What planet is the hottest? Why? Venus, because it has a layer of air that traps heat from the Sun.
  • What planet is the coldest? Why? Uranus
• Period of revolution around the Sun


  • What planet has the longest time to complete one revolution? Why? Neptune, because it is furthest from the Sun.
  • How long the period to complete one revolution? 165 Earth years
• The Earth spins or rotates on its axis, like a top. It takes 24 hours or about a day to make one rotation.
• Due to the spherical shape of the Earth, light from the Sun can shine only on one side of the Earth at a time


  As the Earth rotates, the side facing the Sun experiences day, while the side facing away from the Sun experiences night
• The axis of the Earth is tilted. The Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the Sun at the same time. As a result, not all places on the Earth receive the same amount of heat and light from the Sun throughout the year. This causes the four seasons in a year; spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
• Solar eclipse


  When the Moon gets between the Sun and the Earth. The shadow of the Moon falls on the Earth, partially or fully blocking sunlight.
• Lunar eclipse


  When the Earth gets between the Sun and the Moon. The shadow of the Earth falls on the Moon, partially or fully covering the Moon.
• Terrestrial planets or inner planets

  • Mercury
  • Venus
  • Earth
  • Mars
• Jovian planets or outer planets


  • Jupiter
  • Saturn
  • Uranus
  • Neptune
• Proximity to the Sun in comparison with the Earth

  • Inferior planets: Mercury, Venus
  • Superior planets: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
• Presence of planetary rings and moons

  • Planetary Rings: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
  • Moons: All planets have moons except Mercury and Venus
• Comets, asteroids, and meteoroids
• Recent discoveries about the solar system: Solar flares, Mars, Pluto