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Planets
5th Grade

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AASL Standard: Explore

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Earth—our home planet—is the only place we know of so far that’s inhabited by living things.

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Uranus is the seventh planet away from the sun and the third of the Gas Giants in the solar system. It is a very unique planet that we don't know an awful lot about. It has never been visited by a spacecraft, has mysteriously low temperatures and rolls around the sun on its side! Here are some facts on Uranus.

Uranus is named after the father of the Roman god Saturn. This is most likely due to it's similarities with the planet Saturn.

Uranus has a diameter of 29297 miles (47,150 kilometres) It is the smallest of the gas giants but still four times bigger than Earth.

Uranus is the Seventh planet from the sun. It is 1782 million miles (2869 million kilometres) from the Sun and is between Saturn and Neptune.

A day on Uranus is 17 hours and 14 minutes. This is how long it takes to turn on its axis so it is rotating at a good speed.

A year on Uranus is 84 Earth days.This is how long Uranus takes to orbit the sun.

A telescope is needed to see Uranus. This means ancient astronomers were unaware of Uranus as they did not have the equipment needed to see it. The planet was discovered in 1781 by William Herschel using a telescope.

Uranus has 27 moons. Five of these are quite big and the rest a lot smaller. The large ones are named Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon. All of the moons are named after the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope.

Uranus is one of the planets in a group called the Gas Giants. There are four of these in the solar system, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter and Neptune. Uranus is the smallest of the four but is still a lot bigger than Earth.

Uranus lies on its side as it goes around the sun. Its axis sits at 98 degrees. This means it spins horizontally. Nobody's really sure why this is but the theory is that long ago an Earth sized planet may have crashed into Uranus and caused the shift.

Uranus is surrounded by 13 rings. These were all discovered quite recently so there may be more. Unlike Saturn, scientists are unsure what the rings around Uranus are made from.

Uranus has a mass 14 x that of Earth. That makes it the lightest of all the Gas Giants.

The atmosphere of Uranus is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. This is very similar to Saturn and Jupiter.

What makes Uranus different is that it also has a good amount of ices made from water, ammonia and methane. Because of this the planet is sometimes referred to as one of the Ice Giants. (Uranus and Neptune)

The methane in the atmosphere actually absorbs the red colour on the light spectrum. That is why Uranus appears to be a blue/green colour. They are the colours reflected back into space.

Astronomers watching Uranus noticed that at a certain point when it goes around the sun, it was being pulled further out of its orbit. Scientists thought this must be due to the gravitational pull of another planet. This is what helped them discover Neptune.

The only space mission that has made it near Uranus is The Voyager 2. It flew by the planet in 1986 and gave us the first "close up" pictures of Uranus. Scientists also found evidence of what appears to be an ocean of boiling water roughly 497 miles (800 kilometres) underneath the clouds.

Uranus is the coldest planet in our Solar System. The minimum surface temperature is -224 degrees Celcius (- 371 degrees fahrenheit)

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Link will appear as Uranus: https://spacedictionary.org - Space Dictionary, June 27, 2015

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Uranus Facts for Kids | Facts About Planet Uranus

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Uranus is the seventh planet away from the sun and the third of the Gas Giants in the solar system. It is a very unique planet that we don't know an awful lot about. It has never been visited by a spacecraft, has mysteriously low temperatures and rolls around the sun on its side!

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The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter is covered by swirling clouds of hydrogen, helium and ammonia. Huge storms and raging winds create the swirled colors of Jupiter's atmosphere. The Red Spot, a gigantic storm, has been visible for at least 300 years.

Scientists still have a lot to learn about Jupiter. They know that its atmosphere is similar to that of the Sun - mostly hydrogen and helium. If it was larger, the planet might have become a star. They also know that it has a strong magnetic field, much stronger than the Earth's. The gases on Jupiter are so thick and heavy at the surface of the planet that they become liquid metallic hydrogen. Scientists believe an icy rock core lies at the center of the planet.

Fun Facts about Jupiter for Kids

Jupiter has more than 50 moons.

Four of the moons are the size of planets.

Io, one of the moons, has more volcanoes than any other planet in the solar system.

Europa probably has a liquid ocean beneath its crust.

Ganymede is such a large moon that it has its own magnetic field.

Jupiter has rings, a fact that surprised scientists. The Voyager 1 expedition discovered the rings in 1979. The thick rings are made of dust and bits of rock.

Jupiter Vocabulary

Learn More All About Jupiter, the Largest Planet in Solar System

Check out this cool Jupiter video:

A video of the top 5 amazing facts about Jupiter.

Jupiter Q&A

Question: What is the temperature on Jupiter?

Answer: The average temperature is a chilly -234 Fahrenheit.

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Question: How long is a year?

Answer: A year on Jupiter is 4,331 days. Keep in mind, though, that a day on Jupiter is only 9 hours, 56 minutes - less than half a day on Earth.

Enjoyed the Easy Science for Kids Website all about Jupiter info? Take the FREE & fun Jupiter quiz and download FREE Jupiter worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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Easy Science for Kids Jupiter - The Largest Planet in Our Solar System - learn fun facts about animals, the human body, our planet and much more. Fun free Jupiter - The Largest Planet in Our Solar System activities!

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1. Pick a planet and write 5 things you learned about that planet.

2. Give a few examples of what makes your planet uninhabitable by humans.

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Neptune is the fourth largest and the farthest planet of the Solar System with the most powerful wind speeds out of all the planets. It is the smallest of the gas giants and is the first planet to be discovered by mathematical predictions in 1846.
Key Facts & Summary

It is the only planet that is invisible to the unaided eye, thus it eluded ancient astronomers until it was officially discovered in 1846 by Le Verrier and Johann Galle.

The greatest factor of the discovery was the planet Uranus, whom astronomers were calculating its orbit and observed that Uranus wasn't following their models.

The perturbed orbit of Uranus forced astronomer Urbain Le Verrier to conclude that another undiscovered planet must be at fault. He predicted where it should be, and astronomer Johann Galle found it one degree away from the predicted point thus making Neptune the first planet to be discovered by mathematical calculations and predictions.

Neptune was given the name of the roman god of the sea due to its bluish-ocean like color. Its satellites also received names of water deities.

Neptune's color is believed to be influenced by the presence of methane in its atmosphere and also an unknown factor.

Neptune has an average distance of 2.8 billion miles/4.5 billion kilometers or 30 AU away from the Sun, being the furthest of the eight planets. Currently it is 29.4 AU away from Earth with its light taking up to 4 hours to arrive to us. Neptune's actual position can be checked online as the planet is constantly tracked.

As a result from its distance, it also has the longest orbital duration completing a trip around the Sun in about 165 years.

However, one rotation or day on Neptune is completed in 16 hours.

Until Pluto's eccentric orbit was understood and its status dropped from that of a planet to a dwarf planet, Neptune was considered the second furthest planet from the Sun.

Neptune has a radius of 15.387 miles or 24.764 kilometers, about four times wider than Earth, and a diameter of 49.244 km or 30.598 mi being the fourth largest planet of the solar system.

Neptune and Uranus are termed as ice giants because they are smaller and have different compositionality from the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn. Neptune being made out of layers of helium 29% and 80% hydrogen with traces of methane.

It has a core about 1.5 times the size of Earth with twice its pressure: 7 Mbar or 700 GPa, making up about 45% of the planet's mass, but it does not have a surface.

This is a characteristic of the ice giants, their "rocky", icy cores who are proportionally larger than the amount of gas they contain, unlike the gas giants.

Neptune is the smallest ice giant with a mass of 1.024 × 10^26 kg but has the greatest density out of all the gas giants, about 1.64 g/cm³.

It has an average temperature of -214 degrees Celsius;-353 degrees Fahrenheit, however Uranus is the coldest ice giant, and for that fact the coldest of all planets in the solar system.

Neptune however, excels from something else. It has the fastest wind speed of any planet. Wind speeds blowing westward on the equator reach up to 2,160 kilometers or 1.324 miles per hour, nearly a supersonic flow. Most winds travel retrograde to the rotation of the planet they are 5 times stronger than the strongest winds recorded on Earth, breaking the sound barrier.

Neptune has a total of 6 known rings with some containing ring arcs or clusters of dust particles in a ring.

Neptune also has 14 known moons, the largest is called Triton, and it is the seventh largest known moon of any planet, also being the only one in the solar system that orbits in retrograde or in opposition to the planet's rotation. This means that it is a captured object by Neptune's gravity. Due to its size it is even believed it is a captured dwarf planet.

Neptune was observed in 1613 by Galileo Galilei however, he taught that it was just a star, and when he wanted to further research it, the motion of the planet began to be far too slight to be detected again. The greatest factor of the discovery was the planet Uranus, whom astronomers were calculating its orbit and observed that Uranus wasn't following their models.

The perturbed orbit of Uranus forced astronomers to conclude that another undiscovered planet must be at fault. They predicted where it should be, and astronomer Urbain Le Verrier asked the help of Johann Galle, an astronomer at the Berlin Observatory. Galle found the planet one degree away from the predicted point thus making Neptune the first planet to be discovered by mathematical calculations and predictions.

Galle proposed the name Janus, the Roman god with two faces and La Verrier proposed the name Neptune, however he did tried to name the planet after him but he didn't have popular support outside of France. The astronomer Struve, came out in favor of the name Neptune in December 29 th 1846. Soon after, it became wildly accepted. Neptune was the Roman god of the sea, identified with the Greek Poseidon as the planet appeared water-like in color.

Formation

Through simulations after the Nice model, it has been suggested that both Neptune and Uranus formed closer to the sun and later drifted away. It is hypothesized that the Solar System formed from a giant rotating ball of gas and dust known as the pre-solar nebula.

Much of it formed the Sun while more of its dust went on and merged to create the first proto-planets. As they grew, some accreted enough matter for their gravity to hold unto the nebula's leftover gas. Estimates suggest the creation to have taken place about 4.5 billion years ago, and the drifting about 4 billion.

Distance, Size and Mass

From its discovery until 1930 when Pluto was discovered, Neptune was considered the farthest planet. After the discovery of Pluto, Neptune was thought to be the second furthest planet. When Pluto's eccentric orbit was understood and its status dropped from that of a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006, Neptune regained the title of the farthest planet in Solar System.

Neptune has an average distance of 2.8 billion miles/4.5 billion kilometers or 30.1 AU away from the Sun, and its currently 29.4 AU away from Earth with its light taking up to 4 hours to arrive to us.

The mass of Jupiter is about 17 times that of Earth or 1.0243×10 ²⁶ kg, but when compared to the largest gas giant Jupiter, it has only 1/19 th of Jupiter's mass. It has an equatorial radius of 15.387 miles or 24.764 kilometers, about four times wider than Earth, and a diameter of 49.244 km or 30.598 mi, being the fourth largest planet of the solar system.

Orbit and Rotation

Since it is the farthest planet from the Sun it has the longest orbital duration, completing a trip around the Sun in about 165 years. However, one sidereal rotation or day on Neptune is completed in 16.11 hours.

The average distance from the Sun is about 30.1 AU, while at its perihelion 29.81 AU, and its aphelion 30.33 AU. The elliptical orbit of Neptune is inclined 1.77° compared to that of Earth.

Axial tilt

The axial tilt of Neptune is 28.32°. It is similar to the tilts of Earth 23° and Mars 25°. As a result, Neptune experiences similar seasonal changes to Earth but due to its long orbital period, the seasons last for 40 Earth years. Due to the fact that it lacks a solid body, its atmosphere undergoes differential rotations.

In the wide equatorial zone the rotation period is completed within 18 hours, much slower than the 16.11 - hour rotation of the planet's magnetic field.

The polar regions complete a rotation in 12 hours being the most pronounced differential rotation of any planet in the Solar System, resulting in strong latitudinal wind shear.

Orbital Resonances

Neptune's orbit has a profound impact on the region directly beyond it, known as the Kuiper belt. The Kuiper belt is a ring of small icy worlds, similar to the asteroid belt but far larger, extending from Neptune's orbit at 30 AU out to about 55 AU from the Sun. Many dwarf planets are located here.

Jupiter's gravity dominates the asteroid belt, shaping its structure and dominating the Kuiper Belt. Many regions in the Kuiper belt became destabilized due to Jupiter's gravity, creating gaps in the belt's structure. This can be observed in the 40 - 42 AU region. The most heavily populated resonance in the Kuiper belt, with over 200 known objects, is the 2:3 resonance.

Objects in this resonance complete 2 orbits for every 3 of Neptune, and are known as plutinos because the largest of the known Kuiper belt objects, Pluto, is among them. Although Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit regularly, the 2:3 resonance ensures they can never collide. The 3:4, 3:5, 4:7 and 2:5 resonances are less populated.

Structure

The internal structure is very similar to that of the planet Uranus. Its atmospheres forms about 5% to 10% of its mass and extends about 10% to 20% of the way towards the core reaching pressures of about 10 GPa or 100.000 times that of Earth's atmosphere. Concentrations of methane, ammonia and water are found in the lower regions of the atmosphere with the mantle equivalent to 10-15 Earth masses.

This mixture is referred to as "icy" even though it is a hot, dense fluid sometimes called a water-ammonia ocean. Going even deeper the conditions may be such that even methane decomposes into diamond crystals that rain downwards like hailstones. It is thought that this kind of diamond rain occurs also on Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. The core is likely composed of iron, nickel and silicates. The core is estimated to be about 1.5 times the mass of Earth. The pressure at the center is 7 Mbar or 700 Gpa, twice as high as that at the center of Earth with temperatures of around 5.400 K.

Atmosphere and Climate

The atmosphere is made up mostly of hydrogen, helium and methane. Very similar to Uranus, its vivid blue color is influenced by the presence of methane and some unknown factor causes the more intense color. Neptune may not be as cold as Uranus but it has the most powerful winds out of all the planets in the Solar System despite being the furthest planet from the Sun and receiving the lowest energy input from it. Having the wildest and strangest weather in the entire Solar System, it is not understood how it gets this much energy in order to produce such weather.

Neptune has an average temperature of -214 degrees Celsius;-353 degrees. Wind speeds blowing westward on the equator reach up to 2,160 kilometers or 1.324 miles per hour, nearly a supersonic flow. Most winds travel retrograde to the rotation of the planet they are 5 times stronger than the strongest winds recorded on Earth, breaking the sound barrier. Bands and colossal storms also form on the planet.

In 1989 when Voyager 2 observed the planet, a Great Dark Spot was present among other spots. It was a storm about the size of Earth passing through Neptune's atmosphere. When Hubble was launched, astronomers wanted to see if these spots were a permanent feature like Jupiter's Great Red Spot but the storms were no longer there. Further observations led to discovery of other storms, each appearing and disappearing. The more active weather on Neptune might be due, in part, to its higher internal heat compared to that of Uranus.

Magnetosphere

Neptune's magnetic field is offset 47° relative to its rotational axis. It is believed that this is caused by the magnetic field not being generated in the core but rather by an electrically conducting liquid mantle, or that the mantle deflects the magnetic field from the core which gives it a weird offset in relation to the rotational axis.

No planet in the solar system has a perfectly aligned magnetic field. Even Earth's magnetic north is different from where the North Pole is. However, only Uranus and Neptune have such a tilted magnetosphere. Auroras exist on Neptune but they are very faint due to particles not getting charged so much by the sun, and because of the direction of the magnetosphere, they are mainly type B aurora, or SAR arcs. SAR arcs are not around the poles, but rather around the mid latitudes of the planet.

Planetary Rings

A common feature of the gas giants are their ring systems, which Neptune also has. It is very faint due to its low denseness and extremely dark color, a reddish hue. Neptune has 5 ring systems named after the people involved in the discovery and research of Neptune. The innermost is the Galle Ring, which is faint and wide at 2.000 km or 1.242 miles. The second is the first bright ring, named Le Verrier, it is only 113 km wide or 70.2 mi.

The third is the Lassell Ring, a very faint band 4.000km or 2.485 mi across. On the edge of this ring is the Arago Ring, slightly brighter and less than 100 km or 62 mi wide.

The last known and outermost ring is named the Adams Ring. It is about 35 km or 21.7 mi wide but it is one of the brightest rings. It has a special feature. It is slightly inclined with bright arcs in it. The three main rings are narrow and extend up to 63.000 km or 39.146 mi from Neptune. The Le Verrier Ring, at 53.000 km or 32.932 mi, and the broader, fainter Galle Ring, at 42.000 km or 26.097 mi.

Moons

A total of 14 known moons surround Neptune. They have all been named after water deities in Greek mythology. The first moon discovered was Triton, just 17 days after Neptune itself was discovered. It is also the largest of the 14 moons. The 14 moons of Neptune can be divided into regular, irregular and unusual irregular moons.

Regular moons

Out of the 14 moons, only 7 are inner regular moons, meaning they orbit along Neptune's ecliptic with very circular orbits or orbits with very low eccentricity.

In order of their distance from Neptune: Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Larissa, Hippocamp and Proteus.

The smallest is Hippocamp 35km or 21.7 mi followed by Naiad 58 km or 36 mi, Thalassa 80 km or 49.7 mi, Despina 148 km or 91.9 mi, Galatea 158 km or 98.1 mi, Larissa 196 km or 121.7 mi and the second largest moon Proteus 438 km or 272 mi.

Naiad is the closest regular moon and the second smallest of the inner moons.

All of these regular moons have an average temperature between -221 degrees Celsius up to -224 degrees Celsius.

Irregular moons

The rest of the 14 Neptunian moons are irregular moons. Irregular moons follow an inclined, eccentric and often retrograde orbit.

In order of their distance: Triton, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia, Psamanthe, and Neso.

The smallest of the irregular moons is Psamanthe with a diameter of 40 km or 24.8 mi followed up by Laomedeia 42 km or 26 mi, Sao 44 km or 27.3 mi, Neso 60 km or 37.2 mi, Halimede 62 km or 38.5 mi, Nereid 340 km or 211 mi and the biggest of the moons Triton 2.706 km or 1.681.

All of these irregular moons have an average temperature between - 222 degrees Celsius up to -233 degrees Celsius.

Unusual Irregular Moons

Nereid is the third largest of the Neptunian moons, both it and Triton the largest moon - are considered unusual irregular moons and are two of the largest irregular moons known in the solar system. They both have atypically small semi-major axes and unusual orbital eccentricities

Nereid has one of the most eccentric orbits of any known irregular satellite, and Triton's orbit is a nearly perfect circle. Nereid also has the lowest inclination of any known irregular satellite.

Triton

Triton orbits clockwise around Neptune as Neptune rotates counterclockwise. Triton orbits at a 130 degree angle to the ecliptic of the planet though its orbital eccentricity is close to zero, being almost perfectly circular. The biggest moons in the solar system are usually regular moons, making Triton a bit special. Tritons size is even bigger than Pluto's a dwarf planet. It is strongly believed that Triton is actually a captured dwarf planet. It comprises 99.5% the mass found in Neptune's orbit.

It is the seventh largest moon in the solar system. Although Triton is now a captured object of Neptune's gravity, it is considered the biggest and most massive Kuiper Belt Object. Triton and Pluto share a identical composition, which supports the idea that they share a common origin.

Both Pluto and Triton have nitrogen ice surface, with other ices mixed in like water and carbon dioxide. It has a flat terrain with its topography never varying more than a kilometer. Ridges, plateaus and ice plains are present.

The small amounts of craters imply that its surface is very young and constantly renewed. It also has reddish patches like Pluto which is thought to be methane ice that reacted to UV light from the Sun, producing what is known as tholins, an organic compound.

However, even if primordial elements needed for life are present, it is far too cold on its surface -235 degrees Celsius. It is thought that underneath Triton's surface there is a silicate mantle and metallic core, this could explain its relatively high density for a moon of 2 g/cm ³.

The radioactive decay from the core could be enough to heat and power convection in a subsurface ocean of water, similar to what is thought to be under the surfaces of Europa, Enceladus and some other large moons. Just as in the case of Europa and Enceladus, cryovolcanism is an active process on Triton.

Liquid water in the mantle erupts onto the surface like lave on Earth thus the main reason why Triton's surface appears so young. It is actively renewed by liquid water erupting and then freezing on the surface.

If these eruptions are the reason why minerals, the source of the tholins and organic matter are present on the surface, then it means that organic compounds are found in the subsurface ocean thus creating a possibility for life to have been able to form there.

Life Habitability

Since it doesn't have a true surface but rather swirling fluids it is not conducive to life as we know it. Neptune's moon Triton however, appears more likely to develop life.

Future plans for Neptune

With new technologies coming up, Neptune is definitely a target for future studies by the use of new telescopes. Planned missions for Neptune are pretty vague since it would take well over 10 years to get there since it is the farthest planet.

Did you know?

- The name Neptune was first given to the seventh discovered planet of the Solar System, Uranus. However, the name was discarded but Uranus ultimately led to the discovery of the eight planet, that would bear the name Neptune.

- Uranus is Neptune's near twin in size and composition.

- In 2011 Neptune completed its first 165-year orbit since its discovery in 1846, meaning we have witnessed just 1 Neptunian year.

- Between 2013 - 2049, the closest approach of Neptune to Earth will happen in 2041 at a distance of 28.8 AU.

- Because of the dwarf planet Pluto's elliptical orbit, Pluto is sometimes closer to the Sun and Earth than Neptune is.

- Neptune is 30 times farther than Earth's orbit from the sun.

- The Sun is 900 times dimmer on Neptune than on Earth.

- Most languages use some variant of the name "Neptune" for the planet. In Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean, the planet's name was translated as "sea king star" while in Mongolian it is called Dalain Van. In modern Greek the name is Poseidon while in Māori the planet is called Tangaroa, the name of the Māori god of the sea.

- Neptune has gravity at 1 bar of 11.15 m/s ², 1.14 times the surface gravity of Earth, and surpassed only by Jupiter who has a gravity of 24.79 m/s².

- A total of 58 Earths can fit in Neptune.

- The Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have reached Neptune to this day.

- Neptune has a very strong magnetic field.It is around 27 times stronger than the one on Earth.

[1.] Wikipedia

[1.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neptune_-_Voyager_2_(29347980845)_flatten_crop.jpg

[2.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neptune,_Earth_size_comparison_2b.jpg

[3.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neptune_Orbit.gif

[4.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TheKuiperBelt_classes-en.svg

[5.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neptune_clouds.jpg

[6.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neptune%27s_Great_Dark_Spot.jpg

[7.] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Neptunerings.jpg

[8.] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Neptunian_rings_scheme_2.svg

[9.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TheIrregulars_NEPTUNE.svg

[10.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Triton_moon_mosaic_Voyager_2_(large).jpg

[11.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Triton_(moon).jpg

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Neptune Facts | Temperature, Surface, Information, History & Definition

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Neptune is the fourth largest and the farthest planet of the Solar System with the most powerful wind speeds out of all the planets. It is the smallest of the gas giants and is the first planet to be discovered by mathematical predictions in 1846.

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What does this planet look like?

Venus is sometimes called Earth's sister planet, though its similarities with Earth are limited apart from size and relative condition of its surface. It is easily observed with the naked eye and is sometimes called the "evening star" or "morning star." Venus is covered by thick, noxious clouds of sulfuric acid that obscure a view of its surface. The thick layers of cloud create an extreme insulating effect (like the greenhouse effect) that radiates heat back to the surface and raises the temperature to over 800 degrees F.

Its surface is rocky, dusty, and dotted with mountains and canyons and a few volcanic hot spots. There are many lava flows. Some of the mountain ranges, including the Maxwell Mantes are enormous. Mountains within the 540 mile long range can reach heights of seven miles (much higher than the highest mountain on Earth). In contrast to the high mountains, about 65% of Venus is comprised of smooth plains. The pressure on the surface of Venus is intense. If you were to stand upon Venus, you feel the same amount of pressure you would if you were 3,200 feet underwater!

How big is this planet?

Venus is very similar in size to Earth and occupies about 95% of Earth's diameter. Venus is at least 80% as massive as Earth.

How long does it take to orbit the sun?

225 days

What is its gravity like?

Gravitational force on Venus is similar to Earth. A 100 pound Earthling would weigh about 91 pounds on Venus.

How far is it from the sun? From the Earth?

Venus is the second closest planet to the sun at 67,000,000 miles away. When Venus and Earth are on the same side of the sun, the two planets may come within 25,500,000 miles of each other. When they are on opposite sides of the sun, they may be as far as 162,000,000 miles apart.

What is its atmosphere like?

The atmosphere of Venus is made mostly of carbon dioxide with small amounts of water vapor and nitrogen and even smaller amounts of argon, carbon monoxide, neon, and sulfur dioxide.

What's the temperature like?

Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system. As previously noted, temperatures on the surface exceed 800 degrees F. The temperature in the uppermost layer of Venus's clouds, however, average a temperate 55 degree F.

How many moons does it have?

None

Interesting Facts:

*Venus was the first planet to be observed by a passing spacecraft. The unmanned U.S. spacecraft Mariner 2 passed within 21,600 miles of Venus on Dec. 14, 1962, after traveling through space for more than 31/2 months.

*Unlike most planets, Venus rotates in a clockwise manner.

*A day on Venus would take 243 Earth days!

Venus Video

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What does this planet look like? Venus is sometimes called Earth's sister planet, though its similarities with Earth are limited apart from size and relative condition of its surface. It is easily observed with the naked eye and is sometimes called the "evening star" or "morning star."

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Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

Learn more about Google Earth.

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Aw snap! Google Earth isn't supported on your browser. You may need to update your browser or use a different browser. Please see our system requirements for more information. Chrome is a great choice and you can download it here. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can try Earth anyway by choosing an option below.

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Welcome to Planets for Kids

I really hope you enjoy the information that I have provided on this website. You will find lots of information about our solar system with lots of questions and answers and games for you to play. We also have a color in section where you can download pictures and have fun. Remember everything here is "Kid-friendly" so lets get started....

We have nine planets in our Solar System. These planets circle around the sun (as I'm sure you know already) this is called orbits.

A lot of astronomy people like to think of the Solar System been made up in two parts We have the Inner Solar System which has Mercury, Venus, Earth and not forgetting Mars. These are closest to the sun and are called the terrestrial planets simply because the have very solid rocky surfaces.

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Planets For Kids - Solar System Facts and Astronomy

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I really hope you enjoy the information that I have provided on this website. You will find lots of information about our solar system with lots of questions and answers and games for you to play. We also have a color in section where you can download pictures and have fun.

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Solar System Scope is an incredibly accurate solar system tour, allowing you to explore the solar system, the night sky and outer space in real-time.

All of the objects on the tour are accurately positioned based on where they are right this very second, and the tour contains interesting facts and information about the many objects in space.

Every now and then, don't you wish you could just pack your bags and jet off on an exciting, awe-inspiring journey across our breathtaking solar system? Ever wondered what it'd be like to skim past the gas giants or marvel at the icy rings of Saturn up close? Well, while Elon Musk is still working on making that a reality, I'll be your virtual guide on a one-of-a-kind solar system tour - an enlightening adventure, without the risk of being lost in space!

Our journey starts right here, on our very own life-logged planet, Earth. As we embark on this space voyage, we'll traverse through the neighboring rocky planets, glide past the incredible asteroid belt, and sweep across the majestic giants, their icy rings and numerous satellites. Towards the end, we'll be gracefully riding the gravitational waves, leaving the outer edges of our solar system, where you'll get a rare glimpse of the enigmatic region populated by icy objects known as the Kuiper Belt.

But before we start our engines and head for the inky vastness of space, it's important to remember that although space explorations have given us a fair idea about these celestial bodies, there's still an ocean of mysteries waiting to be unfolded. The real beauty of our cosmic neighborhood lies in its sheer vastness, diversity and the endless scope of discovery that it harbors. From the scorching heat of Mercury to the frigid reaches Pluto and beyond, brace yourself for an out-of-this-world experience!

The Exciting Experience of a Solar System Tour

Imagine the prospect of a real-life solar system tour. It's akin to a child's joy on their first trip to a theme park. A hands-on space exploration that goes beyond the textbooks, casting a mesmerizing spell on minds open to the wonders of the universe.

Propelling past Earth's atmosphere, you'd first mark a date with our closest celestial neighbor-the Moon. The Apollo astronauts traversed its dusty plains more than five decades ago. Yet for us, it would still be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Next on the itinerary is our scorched twin, Venus. Here's a fun fact, Venus is the only planet in our solar system that spins opposite to Earth.

Then we arrive at the pièce de résistance: our bloodline, the Sun. During the visit, you could learn more about its billion-year lifespan and its constant solar storms. The solar system tour would not be complete without a stopover at Mars. Known as the Red Planet, it's been the subject of numerous space missions, most notably the Mars Rover mission seeking evidence of life.

Here's a quick tabular overview:

The Moon

Closest celestial neighbor, part of Apollo mission

Venus

Spins opposite to Earth, Earth's scorched twin

Sun

Billion-year lifespan, constant solar storms

Mars

Red Planet, subject of Mars Rover mission

From the asteroid belt to Jupiter's turbulent storms, every celestial body sits ready to unfold its story. With the tour continuing to the outer reaches of the universe, you'd experience the icy solitude of the outer planets like Neptune and Uranus.

However, we shouldn't forget about an often overlooked, yet significant part of our solar system. Those are the comets and asteroids, remnants from the formation of our system almost 4.6 billion years ago.

Being part of a solar system tour, you wouldn't just be observing the cosmos. Instead, you'd immerse yourself in a cosmic ocean, each wave presenting a new revelation about the universe. It's not merely an experience; it's the chance to physically connect with the vast expanse of space that usually only feels a speck away in the night sky. This would indeed be a ticket to the greatest show in the cosmos.

Traveling through the Solar System: What to Expect

Imagine blasting off into the cosmos on a spaceship designed for a thrilling expedition! As we set off on our solar system tour, the things we'll perceive are extraordinarily vast and stunningly diverse. This voyage will give us a newfound respect for the majesty of the cosmic neighborhood we inhabit.

Our first stop will be Mercury, the closest planet to the sun. It's a small, bare, and intensely heated planet. We shouldn't forget the sunscreen as daytime temperatures can soar up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!

Next, we'll swing by Venus - the hot, hurricane-ridden planet awaits us with an unbelievably corrosive atmosphere. It's interesting to note that Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, including Earth.

Continuing our journey, we'll visit Mars. Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, three times the height of Mount Everest. And don't forget about the giant canyon, Valles Marineris, which would stretch from New York to Los Angeles if it was on Earth!

Yet, our extraordinary adventure won't be all about planets. We'll have a chance to marvel at the Asteroid Belt, a ring composed of millions of rocky bodies. This celestial obstacle course lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Of course, we'll also encounter the majestic giants of our solar system. The gas giants, Saturn and Jupiter, as well as the icy giants, Uranus and Neptune, will present captivating sights. We'll see Jupiter's Great Red Spot, an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth, and Saturn's intricate ring system. Uranus and Neptune, on the other hand, will dazzle us with their stunning cool-blue hues.

Admittedly, going further to behold the beauty of Pluto, once a planet, now a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, caps off this unique expedition. The journey end will leave us with an understanding of the infinite yet harmonious chaos that forms our solar system.

So buckle up, folks. The adventure through our heavenly bodies is par for the cosmic course. Our solar system, with its varied and breathtaking celestial bodies, offers a journey like no other. It's going to be a wild ride! Just remember, despite the vastness of space, we're never too far away from our home planet, Earth.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Intergalactic Journey

Wraping up, we've journeyed past planets and stars, across cosmic fields, and brushed alongside cosmic neighbors throughout our solar system tour. Isn't it just incredible that we live in such an expansive universe that holds so many unseen wonders?

Throughout our intergalactic expedition, we'll forever remember the unique characteristics of each celestial body. Let's just take a quick review again:

Mercury, with its sweltering days and frigid nights,

Venus, stunningly bright yet shrouded in clouds,

Mars, our red neighbor that pique our curiosity about extraterrestrial life,

Jupiter's giant gas storms,

Saturn's enchanting rings,

Uranus and Neptune's icy allure,

And let's not forget about our little cosmic sibling, the dwarf planet Pluto.

Something important stood out during our journey, invoking a sense of interconnectivity. Each exists in symbiosis, drawing and relying upon the sun's energy. Just like how everything on Earth is connected, so are we connected to our cosmic counterparts.

So, what's the takeaway? Should we plan to pack our bags and ship off to Mars? I'll leave that up to you. What I will stress, though, is the importance of space exploration. It's not just a testament to human curiosity, it's a driver of scientific breakthroughs and a reminder of the vast unexplored universe that lies ahead of us.

It might seem frightening, or perhaps intriguing. Yet isn't that the essence of exploration? Stepping into the unknown, learning new things, using that newfound knowledge to improve and innovate. And in doing so, perhaps we'll find more about ourselves along the way.

To sum it up, our universe offers infinite mysteries and wonders for us to discover. As we move forward, let's keep looking up and fueling our curiosity. Remember, no question is a bad question and our solar system tour just has begun. As we continue to explore the stars, who knows what we'll uncover? The only thing for sure is that the stars await, ready to share their secrets with us.

Due to errors in the way the solar system model works embedded on this page, we now link directly to Solar System Scope.

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Interactive Solar System Tour | 3D Model of the Solar System

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NASA Planets Overview

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Our solar system can be divided into three regions: the inner solar system, the outer solar system, and the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud. The inner, rocky planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. These worlds also are known as terrestrial planets because they have solid surfaces. Mercury, Earth, a…