The Solar System is made of planets that orbit the sun, as well as moons, comets, asteroids, minor planets, and dust and gas. Everything in the Solar System orbits or revolves around the Sun. The orbit are not round, they are elliptical which is more of an egg-shaped. The first four planets (the four closest to the sun) are known as the inner planets. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. These planets are made mostly of rock. The next five planets (the five further away from the sun) are known as the outer planets. These planets include Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune are known as the gas giants because they are made mostly of gases. Pluto is coated with ice. Pluto is recently been classified as a dwarf planet and not a real planet.
Today we are going to take a brief trip around the solar system. We are going to start at the sun and briefly stop on all the planets before safely returning to earth. Along the way we will discuss other aspects of our Solar System besides the planets. Our goal is return a little bit wiser about the world outside of our own.
