Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids

Discover the most amazing facts and information about our Solar System and it's planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Factsmania's A-Z encyclopedia of Interesting Facts about Planets of the Solar System for Kids includes information on each planet including its size, color, mass, weight, temperature, weather, location, distance from the Sun, orbit time, surface, structure and composition.

On our journey of the Solar System, we will discover the most important information and facts that are known about the eight planets in our Solar System, in distance of their order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. With clear explanations of the difference between a galaxy, the Milky Way and our Solar System, kids can really begin to understand the structure of our universe.

Interesting Facts about the Solar System for Kids:- Discover amazing Solar System facts with our summary of information for kids about planets, moons, galaxies, star and the Milky Way. We have simplified our facts to help children understand the formation of our universe and the arrangement of the planets and the Sun.

Interesting Facts about the Solar System for Kids:- Our Interesting Facts for Kids are formatted on printable Solar System fact sheets, free and readymade to print for school teachers and students. Discover the expanse of our amazing Solar System and its planets with our interesting facts for kids.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Solar System Definition:
Our Solar System can be defined as a system contining eight known planets, numerous dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, meteoroids, comets, rocks and other celestial bodies and objects all of which revolve around the star at the centre of our Solar System more commonly referred to as the Sun.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- The Planets in order of distance from the Sun:
There are eight planets which have been discover within our Solar System so far. The Planets, in order of their distance from the Sun, are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- The difference between a Galaxy, the Milky Way and our Solar System:
The following definitions will help to clarify the difference between a Galaxy, the Milky Way and our Solar System. A galaxy can be defined as a huge collection of stars. The galaxy containing our Solar System is called 'The Milky Way' and it is home to millions of stars. The Milky Way can be described as an expanse of wonders and discoveries, so massive, it's difficult for us to comprehend. One of the most interesting facts is that our Solar System is only a small part of the Milky Way.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- The eight planets of our Solar System:
Each of the eight planets of Solar System has unique characteristics of their very own. They differ in size, structure, composition, diameter, mass, color, temperature, weather, climate, winds and atmosphere. Some of the planets have the most awesome and unusual features such as the rings of Saturn, and the red eye of Jupiter which is caused by a storm. Planet Earth has one moon whereas some of the planets have lots of moons, otherwise known as satellites.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Inner and outer planet facts:
The planets of the solar system are classed as either inner or outer planets depending on the location of their orbit. If the planet's orbit lies within the asteroid belt, it is classed as an inner planet and if its orbit lies outside of the asteroid belt, it is referred to as an outer planet. Each planet is located at different distances from the sun and has various internal and external composition and structure as they are constructed from different types of material which vary from solid, liquid or gas state. The inner planets of our solar system are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, and they are the closest planets to the Sun. The outer planets, otherwise known as the gas giants as their compositions are mainly gases, are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Sun facts:
The star at the center of our solar system is called the Sun. It is a huge ball of gas with extreme temperatures, so hot and powerful that despite being 13 billion kilometers from Planet Earth, has full control over its temperature, heat, light and life. The Sun provides a massive amount of energy; in fact, its energy source determines the existence of all living things. The Sun is the largest object in our entire Solar System, it is far bigger than any of the eight known planets. The Sun can be described as the central core of our Solar System. it maintains a firm grip on the planets, keeping them in orbit through its massive gravitational pull.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Moon facts:
A moon can be described as a natural satellite of a planet. The Solar System is home to many moons, not just the Earth's moon! There are numerous moons belonging to other planets within our Solar System. Some planets have more than one moon. Jupiter has more discovered moons than any other planet in our Solar System. Jupiter is in fact the largest planet of the Solar System and by 2009 the planet boasted a record number of 63 discovered moons.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Planet Mercury Facts:
Mercury is the smallest of the eight Solar System planets. It is also the closest planet to the Sun so it takes less time to orbit the Sun than any other planet. The orbital period for Mercury is approximately 88 Earth days. During its time of orbit, the distance between Mercury and the Sun is around 47 to 70 million kilometers (29 to 43,000,000 miles). One of the most interesting facts is that despite being the nearest planet to the Sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet in our solar system! Venus is in fact the hottest planet.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- How far is Planet Earth from the Sun?:
In order of distance, Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is located almost 150 million kilometres from the sun on average (93,000,000 miles) and takes approximately 365 days to orbit. Earth is the fifth biggest planet in our Solar System.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Planet Mars Facts:
Mars is often called the 'Red Planet' because of its red color. It lies at an average distance of nearly 228 million kilometres from the Sun (almost 142 million miles), and takes around 687 Earth days to complete a full orbit of the Sun. Mars is the second smallest planet and the second closest to Earth.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Planet Jupiter Facts:
Jupiter is in fact the largest planet in our Solar System and it also has known more moons than any other planet. The average distance between Jupiter and the Sun is approximately 778 million kilometers (nearly 484,000,000 miles). It takes Jupiter around 4331 Earth days to complete an orbit of the Sun . 4331 Earth days is equivalent to over 11 Earth years!

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Planet Saturn Facts:
Saturn is an amazing planet with unique characteristics and features. Saturn is remembered as having beautiful rings that surround it. The rings are an unusual characteristic as they appear smooth but in actual fact are not! The formation and structure of Saturn's rings are a marvel of the Solar System. Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and the second biggest in our solar system. It is positioned approximately 1.4 billion kilometers from the sun on average (nearly 886,000,000 miles) and takes around 10,755 Earth days to perform a complete orbit the Sun (over 29 Earth years!).

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Planet Uranus Facts:
Uranus is the third largest planet of the solar system and it is seventh from the Sun. Uranus has an unusual feature as it tilts so far that its on it is positioned on its side as it orbits the sun. The average distance between the Sun and Uranus is approximately 1.8 billion kilometer (nearly 1.8 billion miles). One complete rotation of the Sun takes around 30,687 Earth days, equal to around 84 years.

Interesting Solar System Facts for Kids:- Planet Neptune Facts:
Neptune is the furthest planet away from the sun. Despite being the most distant, it is in fact the fourth biggest planet in our Solar System. Neptune is almost 4.5 billion kilometers on average from the Sun (nearly 2.8 billion miles). The distance is so huge, it is unimaginable. It takes Neptune around 165 Earth years to fully orbit the sun which is the longest time that it takes any planet in our solar system to complete a full orbit of the Sun.

Interesting Facts about Solar System for Kids