The orbits shown in the images of the solar systems are imaginary lines, drawn just to show the shape of the orbits of planets around the sun. This orbit takes the shape of an ellipse (oval/ shaped like an egg). The path which the planets move around the Sun is called the orbit. So, the Earth’s movement around the Sun is called Earth’s revolution. This movement around the Sun is called revolution. So, the spinning of the Earth on its own axis is called Earth’s rotation.Īs a planet rotates on its own axis, it moves around the Sun (revolves around the Sun). The spinning (turning) of a planet on its own axis is called rotation.

This picture shows the imaginary axis that runs through the centre of the Earth A planet rotates or spins on its own axis. The axis is an imaginary line that runs through the centre of a planet. They are shining with a steady light in the night sky by reflected sunlight. Planets only can reflect the Sun’s light. Planets can’t produce their own light like stars and twinkle. – Pluto Can planets emit (produce or release) light of their own like stars? The side away from the Sun is darker and icy colder than any part of the Earth.)Ģ) The planets far away from the Sun are too cold to live on.Į.g. The side facing the Sun has a hot temperature which is enough to melt lead. – Mercury (Mercury moves around the Sun always keeping the same side turned towards it. What are the hottest and coldest planets?ġ) The planets nearest to the Sun are much too hot to live on.Į.g. Pluto has once been considered the ninth planet of the Solar system, the outermost (furthest) from the solar system. But it is just a dwarf planet. Pluto is about the same size as mercury. It has 3 moons. It is the forth largest planet in the solar system. Neptune has 13 moons. Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. It is the third largest planet in the solar system. Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is the second largest planet in the solar system. Saturn has few rings around it, and this is the special feature of Saturn. Saturn has 47 moons. It is the largest planet in the solar system. Jupiter has at least 63 moons. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun. Mars has got the highest known mountain in the solar system called Olympus Mountain. The red areas which we can see in the Mars are cold, sand less, rocky deserts. Mars is the easiest planet to see from the Earth. It is also called the ‘Red Planet’, because it appears fiery red in the night sky. Mars is the forth planet from the Sun. It has two tiny moons. Earth is the only planet which has been discovered up to now, where life can exist. It’s the third planet from the Sun. It has only one moon.

Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is about the same size as Earth and easy to see from the Earth. Venus is also called the ‘Morning star’ when it appears in the east at sunrise, and it is also called the ‘Evening star’ when it appears in the west at sunset.Įarth is our planet. It is the smallest and the fastest planet in the solar system. Mercury is the nearest planet to the Sun. How many planets are there in our solar system?Įight planets The solar system and its eight planets What does the Sun provide for the rest of the solar system?Ī planet is an object in space that goes around the Sun. Our Sun is a star which is a hot ball of burning gases

Solar system quiz for kids