The solar system

The solar system

1. The Sun

   • The Sun is the only star in the solar system. It is located at the centre. The Sun is much, much bigger than the Earth. Think of the Sun as a football and the Earth as a pea.

2. The planets

   • The planets are large, spherical celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. At the same time, each planet spins on its axis. The four planets nearest to the Sun are called the inner planets. They are mostly made of rock. The four outer planets are much larger and are mostly made of gas. Most planets are orbited by smaller celestial bodies called satellites or moons.

3. Dwarf planets

   • Dwarf planets are spherical celestial bodies, much smaller than planets, which orbit the Sun. Pluto is a dwarf planet.

4. Small celestial bodies

   • Asteroids
     • They are small, rocky, irregular-shaped objects that orbit the Sun. They are mostly found in two regions: the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt.
   • Meterites
     • They are usually small fragments of asteroids. When meteorites enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, they leave fiery trails called shooting stars.
   • Comets
     • They are giant balls of ice and dust. Comets orbit the Sun in a long, elliptical path. Their paths take them very close to the Sun and then far away again. When they get close to the Sun, comets show bright tails.