The solar system consists of the Sun and everything that orbits it, including 8 planets and their natural satellites like Earth and the Moon. The Sun, an average star composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, is at the center of the solar system. Orbiting closest to the Sun are the terrestrial planets including Earth, followed by the asteroid belt and gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, with smaller objects like comets and asteroids located farther out in the Kuiper Belt.

1. The Solar System
Mr. Roider

2. Standards
• ES5a: Students know the Sun, an
average star, is the central and largest
body in the solar system and is composed
primarily of hydrogen and helium.
• ES5b: Students know the solar system
includes the planet Earth, the Moon, the
Sun, eight other planets and their
satellites, and smaller objects, such as
asteroids and comets.

3. A Tour of the Solar System
• The Solar System is mostly empty
space.
• There is a star in the center of the
Solar System, our Sun.
• Four small planets orbit pretty close to
the Sun, these are the rocky
Terrestrial Planets, including our
Earth.