There are 8 planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Mercury is the smallest planet and closest to the sun. Venus is the hottest planet with thick clouds surrounding it. Earth is the only planet that supports life due to its oxygen atmosphere. Mars has deserts and canyons and is nicknamed the red planet. Jupiter is the largest planet and over 11 times the size of Earth. Saturn has the unique feature of rings visible from Earth. Uranus is named after the Greek god of the sky and Neptune is the farthest and coldest planet from the sun.