planets

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  1. 3. Exploration The act of sending spacecraft or astronauts into space to study and learn more about planets and other celestial bodies. Space exploration helps us understand the universe and our place in it.
  2. 4. A dwarf planet that used to be considered the ninth planet in our solar system. Pluto is very far from the Sun and has a surface covered in ice. It was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
  3. 6. The sixth planet from the Sun and known for its beautiful ring system made of ice and dust particles. Saturn is a gas giant, like Jupiter, and its rings make it one of the most recognizable planets in our solar system.
  4. 8. The closest planet to the Sun. It is a small and rocky planet, with a surface that is covered in craters and has extreme temperatures. It has no atmosphere to trap heat, making it very hot during the day and freezing cold at night.
  5. 10. A large celestial body that orbits around a star, like our Sun. Planets are round in shape and do not produce their own light but reflect the light of the star they orbit. There are eight planets in our solar system.
  6. 12. Planet A celestial body that orbits the Sun and shares some characteristics with planets but is smaller. Dwarf planets, like Pluto, are not considered full-fledged planets because they have not "cleared their orbits" of other debris.
  7. 13. The star at the center of our solar system. It is a big ball of hot gases that gives us light and heat. The Sun's gravity keeps all the planets in their orbits and provides energy for life on Earth.
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  1. 1. The second planet from the Sun and often called Earth's "sister planet" due to its similar size. Venus has a thick atmosphere, mostly made of carbon dioxide, which causes a runaway greenhouse effect, making it the hottest planet in our solar system. It also rains sulfuric acid on its surface.
  2. 2. The largest planet in our solar system and the fifth from the Sun. It is a gas giant, mostly made up of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter has a famous feature called the "Great Red Spot," a massive storm that has been raging for hundreds of years.
  3. 3. System A system that includes a star (like our Sun) and all the celestial bodies (planets, moons, asteroids, comets) that orbit around it. Our solar system is just one of many in the universe.
  4. 5. The path that a planet follows as it goes around the Sun. Planets move in elliptical orbits, meaning they are slightly oval-shaped. The Sun's gravity keeps them in their orbits and prevents them from flying off into space.
  5. 7. The eighth and farthest planet from the Sun. Like Uranus, it is an ice giant. Neptune has a vivid blue color, and it has strong winds and storms in its atmosphere, including the fastest winds in the solar system.
  6. 8. Known as the "Red Planet" because of its reddish appearance. It is the fourth planet from the Sun and has a thin atmosphere. Scientists believe it may have had liquid water in the past, making it a target for the search for extraterrestrial life.
  7. 9. The seventh planet from the Sun and an ice giant. Uranus is unique because it rotates on its side, unlike other planets. It has a bluish color due to the presence of methane gas in its atmosphere.
  8. 11. Our home planet! It is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet to support life. It has an atmosphere that provides us with oxygen, water, and a moderate climate that allows us to live here.