The planets in our solar system

By NASA Science, adapted by Newsela staff on 12.19.19

Word Count 317
Level MAX

Image 1. An artist's rendering of the solar system. Note that the planet sizes and distances are not to scale. Credit: NASA

There are more planets than stars in our galaxy. The current count orbiting our star: eight.

The inner, rocky planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The outer planets are gas giants
Jupiter and Saturn and ice giants Uranus and Neptune.

Beyond Neptune, smaller worlds called dwarf planets reign, including perennial favorite Pluto.

Mercury

Mercury — the smallest planet in our solar system and closest to the sun —is only slightly larger
than Earth's moon. Mercury is the fastest planet, zipping around the sun every 88 Earth days.

Venus

Venus spins slowly in the opposite direction from most planets. A thick atmosphere traps heat in a
runaway greenhouse effect, making it the hottest planet in our solar system.

Earth

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Earth — our home planet — is the only place we know of so far that's inhabited by living things. It's
also the only planet in our solar system with liquid water on the surface.

Mars

Mars is a dusty, cold, desert world with a very thin atmosphere. There is strong evidence Mars was
— billions of years ago — wetter and warmer, with a thicker atmosphere.

Jupiter

Jupiter is more than twice as massive than the other planets of our solar system combined. The
giant planet's Great Red spot is a centuries-old storm bigger than Earth.

Saturn

Adorned with a dazzling, complex system of icy rings, Saturn is unique in our solar system. The
other giant planets have rings, but none are as spectacular as Saturn's.

Uranus

Uranus — seventh planet from the sun — rotates at a nearly 90-degree angle from the plane of its
orbit. This unique tilt makes Uranus appear to spin on its side.

Neptune

Neptune — the eighth and most distant major planet orbiting our sun — is dark, cold and whipped
by supersonic winds. It was the first planet located through mathematical calculations.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Quiz

1 Which section from the article BEST explains why some planets are warmer than others?

(A) "Venus"

(B) "Earth"

(C) "Mars"

(D) "Jupiter"

2 Read the following statement.

Features of the planets change over time.

Which sentence from the article provides the BEST support for the above statement?

(A) Mercury is the fastest planet, zipping around the sun every 88 Earth days.

(B) There is strong evidence Mars was — billions of years ago — wetter and warmer, with a thicker
atmosphere.

(C) The other giant planets have rings, but none are as spectacular as Saturn's.

(D) Neptune — the eighth and most distant major planet orbiting our sun — is dark, cold and whipped by
supersonic winds.

3 Read the introduction of the article [paragraphs 1-3].

How does the introduction develop the main idea?

(A) It compares the sizes of the planets in the solar system.

(B) It reveals the reasons why Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

(C) It highlights the number of planets that exist in the galaxy.

(D) It lists the planets of the solar system that will be discussed.

4 How are the sections organized to help develop understanding?

(A) They describe the planets in order based on their size.

(B) They describe the planets in the order of their importance.

(C) They describe the planets in order based on their distance from the sun.

(D) They describe the planets in order based on how old each planet is.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Answer Key

1 Which section from the article BEST explains why some planets are warmer than others?

(A) "Venus"

(B) "Earth"

(C) "Mars"

(D) "Jupiter"

2 Read the following statement.

Features of the planets change over time.

Which sentence from the article provides the BEST support for the above statement?

(A) Mercury is the fastest planet, zipping around the sun every 88 Earth days.

(B) There is strong evidence Mars was — billions of years ago — wetter and warmer, with a thicker
atmosphere.

(C) The other giant planets have rings, but none are as spectacular as Saturn's.

(D) Neptune — the eighth and most distant major planet orbiting our sun — is dark, cold and whipped by
supersonic winds.

3 Read the introduction of the article [paragraphs 1-3].

How does the introduction develop the main idea?

(A) It compares the sizes of the planets in the solar system.

(B) It reveals the reasons why Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

(C) It highlights the number of planets that exist in the galaxy.

(D) It lists the planets of the solar system that will be discussed.

4 How are the sections organized to help develop understanding?

(A) They describe the planets in order based on their size.

(B) They describe the planets in the order of their importance.

(C) They describe the planets in order based on their distance from the sun.

(D) They describe the planets in order based on how old each planet is.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.