The Solar System consists of 8 planets that orbit the Sun, as well as at least 3 dwarf planets and over 130 satellites. The largest object is the Sun, around which planets like Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune revolve. Additional details are provided about each planet's characteristics, such as their size, distance from the Sun, composition, and number of moons.

1. The Solar System By: Allison Minor

2. 8 planets At least 3 dwarf planets 130 + satellites Solar System is mostly empty space Fast Facts!

3. Largest object in Solar System A star Planets orbit (revolve around) the sun The Sun

4. Closest to the Sun Smallest planet Has been traveled to twice Mercury

5. Second from the Sun Sixth largest planet Brightest planet Known as Earth’s sister planet Was once thought to hold life Venus

6. Fifth largest planet Our planet Most dense “Young” One Moon, “The Moon” Earth

7. Seventh largest planet Fourth from the Sun Known as the “Red Planet” Cannot produce “Greenhouse Effect” for living 2 moons Mars

8. Largest planet Fifth from the Sun 2x as big as the other planets Gas planet Great Red Spot is similar to a hurricane on Earth 4 moons Jupiter

9. Second largest planet Sixth from the Sun Least dense Many rings which are made of water ice and rocky particles Saturn

10. Third largest planet Seventh from the Sun First planet discovered Visited once Made of rock and ice Many dark rings made of dust Uranus

11. Fourth largest planet Farthest from the Sun Gas planet Fastest winds in Solar System (2000 km/hr) Dark rings made of unknowns Neptune

12. Until 2006, the dwarf planet, Pluto, was actually considered a planet. Did You Know?

13. Information and Pictures: http://www.nineplanets.org/nineplanets.html#toc Music: Song: “Year of the Comet” Artist/Composer: Darren Baker http://www.archive.org/details/YearOfTheComet Sources