The Solar System
⭐ MasteredEight planets orbit the Sun. Mercury is closest and Neptune is farthest. Earth is the third planet.
Jupiter is so big that all other planets could fit inside it.
All about The Solar System
The Solar System is the Sun and everything that orbits it. It includes eight planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, comets and a lot of dust and gas.
The four inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are small and rocky. The four outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, are much larger and are mostly made of gas or ice.
At the centre is the Sun, a huge ball of hot glowing gas. Eight planets travel around it in paths called orbits.
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👀 What the animation shows
This animation shows the planets moving around the Sun on their orbits. Notice that the planets closest to the Sun travel around faster than the outer planets. Each planet moves along its own path, and the Sun stays in the middle.
Real-life uses of The Solar System
- Navigating spacecraft to planets and moons
- Understanding why we have days, years and seasons
- Predicting eclipses and the phases of the Moon
Frequently asked questions about The Solar System
How many planets are in the Solar System?
There are eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto is now classed as a dwarf planet.
What is the closest planet to the Sun?
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in the Solar System.
How long does Earth take to orbit the Sun?
About 365 days, which is one year. We add a leap day every four years to keep the calendar in line.