The Solar System
| What is the solar system?
It is our Sun and everything that travels around it. Our solar system
is
elliptical in shape. That means it is shaped like an egg.
The Sun is in the center of the solar system. Our solar system is always in motion. Eight known planets and their moons, along with
comets,
asteroids, and
other space objects
orbit
the Sun. The Sun is the biggest object in our solar
system. It contains more than 99% of the solar system's
mass.
Astronomers
think the solar system is more than 4 billion years old. Astronomers are now finding new objects far, far from the Sun which they call dwarf planets. Pluto, which was once called a planet, is now called a dwarf planet. |
|
| The Sun |
The Planets |
| The Moon |
The Asteroid Belt |
| Meteoroids |
Comets |
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StarChild Graphics & Music:
Acknowledgments
StarChild Project Leader:
Dr. Laura A. Whitlock
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