Our Solar System

We are one planet of eight that orbit a medium-size main sequence star.

We are the third rock from the Sun.

Our solar system can be found 2/3 of the way out in the Orion arm of the Milky Way galaxy.

Our galaxy is one of two trillion galaxies in the observable universe

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are known as terrestrial, inner, or rocky planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are known as gas giants, outer planets or Jovian planets

All outer planets have rings and are gaseous and larger than inner planets

Movement of planets is based on revolution around the Sun and rotation on the planet's axis.

Moons are studied in relation to the planet they orbit.

Not all planets have moons.

Most are rocky bodies covered with craters, but some are as unique as their planet.

Movement of moons is based on revolution around their planet and rotation on their axis

Find out why we only see one side of our moon.

Most are rocky bodies that orbit in a region between Mars and Jupiter...asteroid belt.

They vary in size and shape

They revolve around the Sun.

Some asteroids are outside the belt and their orbits cross over Earth's orbit...watch out!

have a main body or head composed of ice, methane, ammonia and ice

have a tail that emerges as they get closer to the Sun during their orbit

have long, narrow, elliptical orbits that cause them to cross over paths of other objects in the solar system

originate from regions of the solar system that lies beyond Neptune and even Pluto....Kuiper belt and Oort Cloud

are chunks of rock that burn upon entering a planet's atmosphere

are called meteoroids within the solar system

are called meteorites when the chunk of rock strikes the surface of a planet or moon

are believed to be remains of broken up comets or asteroids