Welcome to our exciting journey through the solar system! Today, we’re going to explore the amazing planets and other cool things that make up our solar system. So, let’s blast off beyond the trees and clouds to discover what lies beyond Earth’s atmosphere!
At the center of our solar system is the Sun, a gigantic ball of gas that is more than 93 million miles away from us. The Sun is super important because it gives us light and heat, which are essential for life on Earth. It’s the closest star to us and is the biggest object in our solar system. The Sun’s gravity is so strong that it keeps all the planets, comets, and asteroids orbiting around it. Without the Sun, everything would just float away into space!
The Sun is huge—over 1 million Earths could fit inside it! Its surface is incredibly hot, about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you go deeper into the Sun, the temperature gets even hotter, reaching around 27 million degrees Fahrenheit!
Our first stop is Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system. It’s a bit bigger than our Moon and has a solid surface covered in craters. Mercury doesn’t have any moons or rings, and it experiences extreme temperatures. During the day, it can get as hot as 800 degrees Fahrenheit, but at night, it can drop to -290 degrees Fahrenheit. Mercury zooms around the Sun in just 88 days!
Next, we visit Venus, the second planet from the Sun. Venus is similar in size to Earth, which is why it’s called our “sister planet.” However, Venus is much hotter, with temperatures around 900 degrees Fahrenheit because of its thick atmosphere that traps heat. Like Mercury, Venus has no moons or rings, but it’s the brightest planet in our solar system.
Now, let’s talk about Earth, the third planet from the Sun and our home. Earth is the largest rocky planet and is the only one known to support life. It has a crust, mantle, and core, and is surrounded by an atmosphere that makes life possible. Earth has one moon, and most of its surface is covered by water.
Next up is Mars, the fourth planet. Mars is known as the “Red Planet” because of its reddish surface made of iron. It has a thin atmosphere and experiences seasons like Earth. Mars has volcanoes, polar ice caps, and weather patterns. It also has two small moons and is quite cold, with temperatures averaging around -80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Beyond the asteroid belt, we find Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter is a gas giant, which means it doesn’t have a solid surface. It has about 79 moons and is famous for its swirling clouds and the Great Red Spot, a giant storm that has been going on for hundreds of years.
Next is Saturn, known for its beautiful rings made of ice, dust, and rocks. Saturn is also a gas giant and has about 82 moons. Its rings are one of the most stunning features in our solar system!
Uranus is the seventh planet and is called an ice giant because of its unique makeup. It has a blue color due to methane in its atmosphere and is known for rotating on its side. Uranus has 13 rings and 27 moons.
Finally, we reach Neptune, the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun. Neptune is very cold and dark, and it’s also an ice giant. It has six rings and 14 moons. Neptune is located about 2.8 billion miles from the Sun!
Once upon a time, Pluto was considered the ninth planet, but in 2006, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet. There are now several dwarf planets in our solar system.
Now you know all about the eight official planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Thanks for joining us on this solar system adventure! We hope you had fun learning with us!
Create Your Own Solar System Model: Gather some materials like clay, colored paper, or foam balls to create a model of the solar system. Use different sizes to represent the planets and the Sun. Arrange them in order from the Sun outward: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Once your model is complete, try to explain to a family member or friend how each planet is unique!
Planet Temperature Experiment: Use a thermometer to measure the temperature in different places around your home or school. Compare these temperatures to the extreme temperatures on planets like Mercury and Venus. Discuss why these planets are so hot or cold and what it would be like to live there. Can you think of ways to stay cool or warm if you were on these planets?
Stargazing Journal: On a clear night, go outside with an adult and look up at the sky. Try to spot some planets or stars. Keep a journal of what you see and draw pictures of the night sky. Write down any questions you have about space. The next day, research your questions or ask your teacher to help you find the answers!
Welcome to EA Homeschool Academy! Today, we will learn about the various planets in our solar system. Let us travel far beyond the trees and even further than the clouds to explore what lies beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Far beyond our world are other fascinating places that make up our solar system. Join me on this solar system adventure!
At the center of our solar system, more than 93 million miles (or 149 million kilometers) away, is a gigantic ball of gas known as the Sun. Through a process called nuclear fusion, hydrogen is converted to helium, and this solar energy provides the heat and light essential for sustaining life here on Earth. The Sun is the closest star to our planet and is central to our solar system, which is why we use the term “solar” to describe it. The Sun is the largest object in our solar system, and its gravitational pull keeps all the planets, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, and other space materials in orbit. Without the Sun’s gravitational pull, everything would drift off into deep space.
The Sun is enormous; in fact, more than 1 million Earths could fit inside it! The surface temperature of the Sun is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (or 5,600 degrees Celsius), and as you move toward the Sun’s core, the temperature rises even higher, reaching approximately 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (or 15 million degrees Celsius).
Now, let us leave the Sun and explore the various planets that orbit it. The first planet we encounter is Mercury. Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and is slightly larger than our Moon. It is a terrestrial planet, meaning it has a solid core. Despite its small size, it is very dense and compact. The surface of Mercury is similar to our Moon, heavily cratered, and it does not have any satellites or ring systems. Mercury experiences extreme temperature changes, with daytime temperatures reaching up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit (or 430 degrees Celsius) and nighttime temperatures dropping below -290 degrees Fahrenheit (or -180 degrees Celsius). It takes approximately 88 days for Mercury to complete its orbit around the Sun.
Next in our solar system adventure is Venus. Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is often called our “sister planet” because of its similarities to Earth in size and gravity. However, the two have vast differences. Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system, with surface temperatures around 900 degrees Fahrenheit (or 482 degrees Celsius), due to its thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide that traps heat. Like Mercury, Venus is a terrestrial planet with a solid core and rocky surface, but it does not have a moon or ring system. Venus is the brightest planet in our solar system.
Now, let’s learn about Earth, the third planet from the Sun and our home. Earth is the largest terrestrial planet in our solar system and revolves around the Sun once every 365 days. It has a crust, a mantle, and a core, and is surrounded by a mixture of gases known as the atmosphere, which creates an environment suitable for humans. Earth is the only known planet in the solar system that supports living things. It has one moon, and its surface is mostly covered by salty water.
Next, we have Mars, the fourth planet in our solar system. Like Earth and the other inner planets, Mars is terrestrial with a crust, mantle, and core. Its surface is made up of iron, nickel, and sulfur, giving it a reddish appearance and earning it the nickname “the Red Planet.” Mars has a thin atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide. It experiences seasons, has volcanoes, polar ice caps, and weather patterns. The tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is located on Mars, standing about 13 miles (or 21 kilometers) high. Mars has two irregularly shaped moons and is known for its cold temperatures, averaging around -80 degrees Fahrenheit (or -62 degrees Celsius).
Beyond the asteroid belt, we find the outer planets. The fifth planet in our solar system adventure is Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet and is classified as a gas giant, meaning it does not have a solid surface. It may have a core about the same size as Earth. Jupiter has approximately 79 moons and is known for its swirling clouds and strong storms, including the Great Red Spot, which has been raging for hundreds of years.
Next is Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, famous for its beautiful icy rings. Saturn is also a gas giant and does not have a solid surface. It has more than 30 rings made up of tiny ice, dust, and rock particles. Saturn has approximately 82 moons and is known for its major storm systems.
Now, let’s learn about Uranus, the seventh planet in the solar system. Uranus is classified as an ice giant due to its unique chemical composition. It has a blue hue from the presence of methane in its atmosphere and is known for rotating on its side. Uranus has 13 known rings and 27 moons.
Finally, we arrive at Neptune, the eighth and most distant planet in the solar system. Neptune is very cold and dark, located about 4.5 billion kilometers (or 2.8 billion miles) from the Sun. It is also classified as an ice giant and has an average surface temperature of around -353 degrees Fahrenheit (or -214 degrees Celsius). Neptune has a ring system with six rings and 14 moons.
Long ago, Pluto was considered the ninth planet in our solar system, but in 2006, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet due to new discoveries and criteria. The category of dwarf planets has since grown to include five others.
Now you know the eight official planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Thank you for joining me on this solar system adventure today! Until next time, please let us know what you would like to see next by emailing [email protected]. Don’t forget to like and share our videos, and please subscribe to our channel!
