The Solar System
Planets, rotation and revolution of Earth
Our Solar System
The solar system has the Sun at its centre with eight planets orbiting it: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The inner planets are rocky; the outer planets are gas giants. Earth is the only known planet with life.
Example
Planet Facts
Order from Sun: My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos
(Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
Earth: 1 year to orbit Sun, 1 day to rotate
Jupiter: Largest planet, 12 years to orbit Sun
Mercury: Closest to Sun, very hot days, cold nights
Note
Remember
Rotation = spinning on axis (causes day/night). Revolution = orbiting the Sun (causes years). Earth's tilt on its axis (23.5°) causes seasons. The Moon orbits Earth every 28 days.
Key Vocabulary
Solar systemThe Sun and all objects that orbit around it
PlanetA large body that orbits a star and has cleared its orbit
RotationSpinning on an axis (Earth's rotation = day and night)
RevolutionMoving in an orbit around another object
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Solar system
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