A long time ago, a star and nine planets appeared on the outskirts of one of the galaxies.
The star called itself the Sun, and the planets were called Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. The sun was a hot-tempered, wayward, but kind star. Without thinking or guessing, it settled down in the center of the ring of meteorites, leaving the planets all the space around it.
Four small planets wanted life to appear on them, so it was decided that they would take their places near the sun, and the rest, not thirsty for life on themselves, but worried about their beauty, would take a ring of meteorites.
“I,” said Mercury, who does not always think correctly, “believe that life will arise only in warmth, so I will rise first after the sun, especially since we are great friends.” – With these words, the smallest planet took the chosen place and immediately began to heat up, but confident in the correctness of its decision, it did not change it.
Mars spoke next, believing that it would be best if he took
fourth place after the Sun so as not to be damaged by the heat of a scorching star and allow life to appear. Alas, if you chase two birds with one stone, you won’t catch either.
“And I,” the eternally raging, dazzlingly beautiful and proud Venus spoke,
I think I need to stand as close to the Sun as possible. The warmth and my beauty will definitely create conditions for a prosperous life. - And Venus took its place next to Mercury, becoming the second planet near the Sun. Only what kind of life (her own or the one that could arise) she was talking about remains a mystery.
The modest, kind Earth, not noticing its beauty, sincerely wished for the emergence of life. She didn’t care where she stood; she believed that in any place near the Sun life would appear on her. Therefore, without saying a word, she stood in third place next to the star.
It was easier for the other five planets. They chose their seats according to their size.
The fifth was taken by the giant Jupiter, the sixth by Saturn, proud of its multi-colored rings, the seventh by Uranus, the eighth by Neptune, and the ninth by the taciturn little Pluto.
When each of the planets fell into place, the star declared that it would rotate around its axis in order to see the world around it and advised others to do the same. The planets thought and agreed with the luminary.
However, the planets had a question, which was voiced by Mars: “What is this? If we always stand in one line like this, then some will get more heat, others less, and some won’t get it at all! How can we make sure that there is enough light for everyone?”
The planets thought, they thought, and after several hours of reflection they decided to move around the Sun, each along its own path, and this path was called an orbit.
This is how the planets and the star lived together for a long time, until tourists arrived,
so-called satellites. They were struck by the friendship between the planets and the star, between the planets themselves.
The companions became friends with everyone, so much so that they decided to stay here forever. Everyone with their new friend. The Moon satellite began to live next to the Earth, revolving around it, amazed by its beauty and kindness. Phobos and Deimos are around Mars. Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, admired by the size of Jupiter, remained to live next to it. Titan, Rhea, Prometheus, Epimetheus, Pandora and Janus decided to settle near Saturn. Oberon, Titania, Miranda, Ariel, Cordelia, Ophelia, Bianca, Cressida, Desdemona, Juliet and Portia are with Uranus. Triton and Nereid - with Neptune. Charon is as silent as his friend - with Pluto.
Together with the satellites, the planets and the Sun became even more fun. And they lived happily ever after until they decided to name their system Solar, in honor of the star that gave them warmth.
After a few million years, life appeared on Earth, but not on Mercury, Mars and Venus. These planets were upset, but still did not lose hope that someday life would arise on them.
This is how the planets have lived until now, and perhaps they will live for millions of years to come.
This is a system of planets, in the center of which there is a bright star, a source of energy, heat and light - the Sun.
According to one theory, the Sun was formed along with the Solar System about 4.5 billion years ago as a result of the explosion of one or more supernovae. Initially, the Solar System was a cloud of gas and dust particles, which, in motion and under the influence of their mass, formed a disk in which a new star, the Sun, and our entire Solar System arose.
At the center of the solar system is the Sun, around which nine large planets revolve in orbit. Since the Sun is displaced from the center of planetary orbits, during the cycle of revolution around the Sun the planets either approach or move away in their orbits.
Terrestrial planets: And . These planets are small in size with a rocky surface and are closest to the Sun.
Giant planets: And . These are large planets, consisting mainly of gas and characterized by the presence of rings consisting of icy dust and many rocky chunks.
And here does not fall into any group, because, despite its location in the solar system, it is located too far from the Sun and has a very small diameter, only 2320 km, which is half the diameter of Mercury.
Planets of the Solar System
Let's begin a fascinating acquaintance with the planets of the Solar System in order of their location from the Sun, and also consider their main satellites and some other space objects (comets, asteroids, meteorites) in the gigantic expanses of our planetary system.
Rings and moons of Jupiter: Europa, Io, Ganymede, Callisto and others...
The planet Jupiter is surrounded by a whole family of 16 satellites, and each of them has its own unique features...
Rings and moons of Saturn: Titan, Enceladus and others...
Not only the planet Saturn has characteristic rings, but also other giant planets. Around Saturn, the rings are especially clearly visible, because they consist of billions of small particles that revolve around the planet, in addition to several rings, Saturn has 18 satellites, one of which is Titan, its diameter is 5000 km, which makes it the largest satellite in the solar system...
Rings and moons of Uranus: Titania, Oberon and others...
The planet Uranus has 17 satellites and, like other giant planets, there are thin rings surrounding the planet that have practically no ability to reflect light, so they were discovered not so long ago in 1977, completely by accident...
Rings and moons of Neptune: 
Triton, Nereid and others...
Initially, before the exploration of Neptune by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, two satellites of the planet were known - Triton and Nerida. An interesting fact is that the Triton satellite has a reverse direction of orbital motion; strange volcanoes were also discovered on the satellite that erupted nitrogen gas like geysers, spreading a dark-colored mass (from liquid to vapor) many kilometers into the atmosphere. During its mission, Voyager 2 discovered six more moons of the planet Neptune...
This short note presents material on the topic: solar system for children. In simple and understandable language, we described the solar system, the planets that are in it and many other interesting things.
There are many objects in the Universe, including planets and satellites, stars and systems, as well as galaxies. The solar system, in which our planet Earth is located, is also full of planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, and many other interesting objects. Today, scientists suggest that our solar system was formed from a giant cloud of gas and dust. There are 8 planets in it, which are divided into 2 groups - the inner planets (they are also the planets of the terrestrial group). This group includes Mercury, Venus, Earth (the third planet from the Sun) and Mars. And the outer planets or gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Between these two groups is the asteroid belt. And behind the gas giants are trans-Neptunian objects. The largest of which is Pluto. Previously, Pluto was considered an ordinary planet, but now it is classified as a dwarf planet and at the same time the largest object in the Kuiper belt.
The Kuiper Belt is similar to the asteroid belt, but differs in that it is 20 times wider and also in its composition.
solar system
How to remember the planets and their order?
Short mnemonic phrases, also known as mnemonics, make it easier to memorize various information by forming artificial associations.
On this page we have collected memories of the planets of the solar system for children that will make this sometimes difficult task easier. The only caveat is that when they were invented, Pluto was classified as a planet, and therefore it is present in almost all memos. And as we know, since 2006 Pluto began to be considered a dwarf planet, and now when memorizing it can be omitted.
Memories of the planets of the solar system
You can remember the order of the planets of the solar system (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) by the first letters of the words M-Mercury V-Venus W-Earth M-Mars Yu-Jupiter S-Saturn U-Uranus N-Neptune P-Pluto in phrases:
- We Know After All - Yulia’s Mom Sat on Pills in the Morning!
- Little Bear Snacked on the Ham with Raspberries, Nimble Gopher Stole the Penknife.
- On a Frosty Evening I Climbed Jung's Mast, Trying to See an Unfamiliar Port.
- Mom Always Forbade Me, a Young Explorer, to Find out the Names of the Planets.
- The Sea Wolf Tormented the Young Jung, Completely Tiring the Unhappy Guy.
- We Will Meet Tomorrow, My Young Companion, Near the New Planet.
- The Wise Sorceress The Golden-Headed Fashionista of the Southern Countries Is Fond of the Newest Poetry.
- We Know Everything: Many Young Marmots Learn the Names of the Planets.
- You can fly beyond Mars, Jewelly Turning Off Our Planet.
- Mom makes strawberry juice, but the young son no longer cries.
- Venya measured the Earth with Marusya's Skirt, Satin and Uranium, He is a good-for-nothing Trickster.
- Gloomy Venereal Disease Can Quickly Slay a Tired Nymphomaniac.
- Maria of the Southern Sun Notices the Smile on the Beach Least of All.
- Little Peter Slowly Carries the Earth; The Garden is Decorated with Unbreakable Plafonds (Mnemonic of the Planets by Alexey Golovnin).
- Dreaming of getting married, take off your little skirt - you need to smile and kiss.
Remembering the order of planets in the asteroid belt
Masha Chalked the Earth with a Broom, And Yura Sat at the Spider Hole.
That is, in this phrase the letter “A” was added - the Asteroid Belt.
Memorization of planets from the farthest planet (Pluto) to the closest (Mercury) to the Sun
It is not difficult for the youngest child to remember the planets, knowing Venus and Mercury.
Poems for memorizing planets
The little hare rushed between the wolves,
slipped, stumbled, fell -
didn't get up.
All planets in order
Any of us will name it.
One Mercury, two Venus,
three Earth, four Mars.
Five Jupiter, six Saturn,
Seven Uranus, followed by Neptune.
He is the eighth in a row
and quite later
and the ninth planet called Pluto
There lived an astrologer on the moon
He kept track of the planets:
MERCURY - once,
VENUS - two, sir,
Three - EARTH,
Four - MARS,
Five - JUPITER,
Six - SATURN,
Seven - URANUS,
Eight - NEPTUNE,
Nine is PLUTO the furthest away,
If you don't see it, get out!
Verse for remembering 8 planets without Pluto
Mercury - one, Venus - two, sir,
Three - Earth, four - Mars,
Five - Jupiter, six - Saturn,
Seven - Uranus, eighth - Neptune
Blank verse for remembering the order of the planets
It is not enough to measure the earthly age
the youth of the garden is wretched
no fruit
Other ways to remember the order of the planets of the solar system for children and adults
Another way to remember the order of the planets is to compare them with other but similar words and write a sentence using them.
For example: My friend Venus (Venus) fades (Mercury) on Earth (Earth). Because she ate Mars (Mars), which was lying on the music stand (Jupiter), and threw the wrapper into a full, that is, full urn (Saturn), after which she shouted “Hurray” (Uranus). And it wasn’t a vocational school (Neptune), but she graduated from an institute, later running away with some rogue (Pluto).
Between two gods starting with the letter M: Mercury and Mars, there are 2 women: Venus and Earth. Behind the god Mars is his father, Jupiter. Behind the supreme god Jupiter is a planet unique with its rings - Saturn. The name Saturn encrypts both Saturn (SAT) and the subsequent planets: Uranus (UR) and Neptune (N). Following them, Pluto is not a planet, but looks like the dog Pluto looking with bewilderment at the pantheon of Greek gods in front of him.
Acronyms for remembering planets
Another way to learn the order of the planets is to use an acronym - that is, an abbreviation that is formed by the first sounds of words in a phrase. That is, this is a word that can be pronounced together, while it is an abbreviation. To memorize the planets, you can remember the acronym: MeVeZeMa YUSUNP.
Do you also know any interesting memory cards or original ways of memorizing the planets of the solar system? Write them in the comments.
The solar system is a group of planets revolving in specific orbits around a bright star - the Sun. This star is the main source of heat and light in the solar system.
It is believed that our planetary system was formed as a result of the explosion of one or more stars and this happened about 4.5 billion years ago. At first, the Solar System was an accumulation of gas and dust particles, however, over time and under the influence of its own mass, the Sun and other planets arose.
Planets of the Solar System
At the center of the solar system is the Sun, around which eight planets move in their orbits: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Until 2006, Pluto also belonged to this group of planets; it was considered the 9th planet from the Sun, however, due to its significant distance from the Sun and small size, it was excluded from this list and called a dwarf planet. More precisely, it is one of several dwarf planets in the Kuiper belt.
All of the above planets are usually divided into two large groups: the terrestrial group and the gas giants.
The terrestrial group includes such planets as: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. They are distinguished by their small size and rocky surface, and in addition, they are located closest to the Sun.
Gas giants include: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. They are characterized by large sizes and the presence of rings, which are ice dust and rocky pieces. These planets consist mainly of gas.
Mercury
This planet is one of the smallest in the solar system, its diameter is 4,879 km. In addition, it is closest to the Sun. This proximity predetermined a significant temperature difference. The average temperature on Mercury during the day is +350 degrees Celsius, and at night - -170 degrees.
- Mercury is the first planet from the Sun.
- There are no seasons on Mercury. The tilt of the planet's axis is almost perpendicular to the plane of the planet's orbit around the Sun.
- The temperature on the surface of Mercury is not the highest, although the planet is located closest to the Sun. He lost first place to Venus.
- The first research vehicle to visit Mercury was Mariner 10. It conducted a number of demonstration flights in 1974.
- A day on Mercury lasts 59 Earth days, and a year is only 88 days.
- Mercury experiences the most dramatic temperature changes, reaching 610 °C. During the day, temperatures can reach 430 °C, and at night -180 °C.
- The gravity on the planet's surface is only 38% of Earth's. This means that on Mercury you could jump three times as high, and it would be easier to lift heavy objects.
- The first observations of Mercury through a telescope were made by Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century.
- Mercury has no natural satellites.
- The first official map of Mercury's surface was published only in 2009, thanks to data obtained from the Mariner 10 and Messenger spacecraft.
Venus
This planet is the second from the Sun. In size it is close to the diameter of the Earth, the diameter is 12,104 km. In all other respects, Venus differs significantly from our planet. A day here lasts 243 Earth days, and a year lasts 255 days. The atmosphere of Venus is 95% carbon dioxide, which creates a greenhouse effect on its surface. This results in an average temperature on the planet of 475 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere also contains 5% nitrogen and 0.1% oxygen.
- Venus is the second planet from the Sun in the Solar System.
- Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, although it is the second planet from the sun. Surface temperature can reach 475 °C.
- The first spacecraft sent to explore Venus was sent from Earth on February 12, 1961 and was called Venera 1.
- Venus is one of two planets whose direction of rotation around its axis is different from most planets in the solar system.
- The planet's orbit around the Sun is very close to circular.
- The day and night temperatures of the surface of Venus are practically the same due to the large thermal inertia of the atmosphere.
- Venus makes one revolution around the Sun in 225 Earth days, and one revolution around its axis in 243 Earth days, that is, one day on Venus lasts more than one year.
- The first observations of Venus through a telescope were made by Galileo Galilei at the beginning of the 17th century.
- Venus has no natural satellites.
- Venus is the third brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and Moon.
Earth
Our planet is located at a distance of 150 million km from the Sun, and this allows us to create on its surface a temperature suitable for the existence of liquid water, and, therefore, for the emergence of life.
Its surface is 70% covered with water, and it is the only planet to contain such an amount of liquid. It is believed that many thousands of years ago, steam contained in the atmosphere created the temperature on the Earth's surface necessary for the formation of water in liquid form, and solar radiation contributed to photosynthesis and the birth of life on the planet.
- Earth in the solar system is the third planet from the sunsA;
- Our planet revolves around one natural satellite - the Moon;
- Earth is the only planet not named after a divine being;
- The Earth's density is the greatest of all the planets in the solar system;
- The Earth's rotation speed is gradually slowing down;
- The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is 1 astronomical unit (a conventional measure of length in astronomy), which is approximately 150 million km;
- The Earth has a magnetic field of sufficient strength to protect living organisms on its surface from harmful solar radiation;
- The first artificial Earth satellite, called PS-1 (The simplest satellite - 1), was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Sputnik launch vehicle on October 4, 1957;
- In orbit around the Earth, compared to other planets, there is the largest number of spacecraft;
- Earth is the largest terrestrial planet in the solar system;
Mars
This planet is the fourth from the Sun and is 1.5 times more distant from it than the Earth. The diameter of Mars is smaller than Earth's and is 6,779 km. The average air temperature on the planet ranges from -155 degrees to +20 degrees at the equator. The magnetic field on Mars is much weaker than that of Earth, and the atmosphere is quite thin, which allows solar radiation to unimpededly affect the surface. In this regard, if there is life on Mars, it is not on the surface.
When surveyed with the help of Mars rovers, it was found that there are many mountains on Mars, as well as dried up river beds and glaciers. The surface of the planet is covered with red sand. It is iron oxide that gives Mars its color.
- Mars is located in the fourth orbit from the Sun;
- The Red Planet is home to the tallest volcano in the solar system;
- Of the 40 exploration missions sent to Mars, only 18 were successful;
- Mars is home to some of the largest dust storms in the solar system;
- In 30-50 million years, a system of rings will be located around Mars, like Saturn;
- Debris from Mars has been found on Earth;
- The Sun from the surface of Mars looks half as big as from the surface of the Earth;
- Mars is the only planet in the solar system that has polar ice caps;
- Two natural satellites revolve around Mars - Deimos and Phobos;
- Mars has no magnetic field;
Jupiter
This planet is the largest in the solar system and has a diameter of 139,822 km, which is 19 times larger than Earth. A day on Jupiter lasts 10 hours, and a year is approximately 12 Earth years. Jupiter is mainly composed of xenon, argon and krypton. If it were 60 times larger, it could become a star due to a spontaneous thermonuclear reaction.
The average temperature on the planet is -150 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere consists of hydrogen and helium. There is no oxygen or water on its surface. There is an assumption that there is ice in the atmosphere of Jupiter.
- Jupiter is located in the fifth orbit from the Sun;
- In the Earth's sky, Jupiter is the fourth brightest object, after the Sun, Moon and Venus;
- Jupiter has the shortest day of all the planets in the solar system;
- In the atmosphere of Jupiter, one of the longest and most powerful storms in the solar system rages, better known as the Great Red Spot;
- Jupiter's moon Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system;
- Jupiter is surrounded by a thin system of rings;
- Jupiter was visited by 8 research vehicles;
- Jupiter has a strong magnetic field;
- If Jupiter were 80 times more massive, it would become a star;
- There are 67 natural satellites orbiting Jupiter. This is the largest in the Solar System;
Saturn
This planet is the second largest in the solar system. Its diameter is 116,464 km. It is most similar in composition to the Sun. A year on this planet lasts quite a long time, almost 30 Earth years, and a day lasts 10.5 hours. The average surface temperature is -180 degrees.
Its atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen and a small amount of helium. Thunderstorms and auroras often occur in its upper layers.
- Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun;
- Saturn's atmosphere contains the strongest winds in the solar system;
- Saturn is one of the least dense planets in the solar system;
- Surrounding the planet is the largest ring system in the Solar System;
- One day on the planet lasts almost one Earth year and is equal to 378 Earth days;
- Saturn was visited by 4 research spacecraft;
- Saturn, together with Jupiter, constitutes approximately 92% of the total planetary mass of the Solar System;
- One year on the planet lasts 29.5 Earth years;
- There are 62 known natural satellites orbiting the planet;
- Currently, the automatic interplanetary station Cassini is studying Saturn and its rings;
Uranus
Uranus, computer artwork.
Uranus is the third largest planet in the solar system and the seventh from the Sun. It has a diameter of 50,724 km. It is also called the “ice planet”, as the temperature on its surface is -224 degrees. A day on Uranus lasts 17 hours, and a year lasts 84 Earth years. Moreover, summer lasts as long as winter - 42 years. This natural phenomenon is due to the fact that the axis of that planet is located at an angle of 90 degrees to the orbit and it turns out that Uranus seems to be “lying on its side.”
- Uranus is located in the seventh orbit from the Sun;
- The first person to learn about the existence of Uranus was William Herschel in 1781;
- Uranus has only been visited by one spacecraft, Voyager 2 in 1982;
- Uranus is the coldest planet in the solar system;
- The plane of Uranus' equator is inclined to the plane of its orbit at almost a right angle - that is, the planet rotates retrograde, "lying on its side slightly upside down";
- The moons of Uranus bear names taken from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, rather than Greek or Roman mythology;
- A day on Uranus lasts about 17 Earth hours;
- There are 13 known rings around Uranus;
- One year on Uranus lasts 84 Earth years;
- There are 27 known natural satellites orbiting Uranus;
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun. It is similar in composition and size to its neighbor Uranus. The diameter of this planet is 49,244 km. A day on Neptune lasts 16 hours, and a year is equal to 164 Earth years. Neptune is an ice giant and for a long time it was believed that no weather phenomena occur on its icy surface. However, it was recently discovered that Neptune has raging vortices and wind speeds that are the highest among the planets in the solar system. It reaches 700 km/h.
Neptune has 14 moons, the most famous of which is Triton. It is known to have its own atmosphere.
Neptune also has rings. This planet has 6 of them.
- Neptune is the most distant planet in the Solar System and occupies the eighth orbit from the Sun;
- Mathematicians were the first to know about the existence of Neptune;
- There are 14 satellites circling around Neptune;
- Neputna's orbit is removed from the Sun by an average of 30 AU;
- One day on Neptune lasts 16 Earth hours;
- Neptune has only been visited by one spacecraft, Voyager 2;
- There is a system of rings around Neptune;
- Neptune has the second highest gravity after Jupiter;
- One year on Neptune lasts 164 Earth years;
- The atmosphere on Neptune is extremely active;
- Jupiter is considered the largest planet in the solar system.
- There are 5 dwarf planets in the Solar System, one of which has been reclassified as Pluto.
- There are very few asteroids in the Solar System.
- Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
- About 99% of the space (by volume) is occupied by the Sun in the Solar System.
- The satellite of Saturn is considered one of the most beautiful and original places in the solar system. There you can see a huge concentration of ethane and liquid methane.
- Our solar system has a tail that resembles a four-leaf clover.
- The sun follows a continuous 11-year cycle.
- There are 8 planets in the solar system.
- The Solar System is fully formed thanks to a large gas and dust cloud.
- Spacecraft have flown to all the planets of the solar system.
- Venus is the only planet in the solar system that rotates counterclockwise around its axis.
- Uranus has 27 satellites.
- The largest mountain is on Mars.
- A huge mass of objects in the solar system fell on the sun.
- The solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy.
- The sun is the central object of the solar system.
- The solar system is often divided into regions.
- The Sun is a key component of the Solar System.
- The solar system was formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago.
- The most distant planet in the solar system is Pluto.
- Two regions in the Solar System are filled with small bodies.
- The solar system was built contrary to all the laws of the Universe.
- If you compare the solar system and space, then it is just a grain of sand in it.
- Over the past few centuries, the solar system has lost 2 planets: Vulcan and Pluto.
- Researchers claim that the solar system was created artificially.
- The only satellite of the Solar System that has a dense atmosphere and whose surface cannot be seen due to cloud cover is Titan.
- The region of the solar system that lies beyond the orbit of Neptune is called the Kuiper belt.
- The Oort cloud is the region of the solar system that serves as the source of a comet and a long orbital period.
- Every object in the solar system is held there due to the force of gravity.
- The leading theory of the solar system involves the emergence of planets and moons from a huge cloud.
- The solar system is considered the most secret particle of the Universe.
- There is a huge asteroid belt in the solar system.
- On Mars you can see the eruption of the largest volcano in the solar system, which is called Olympus.
- Pluto is considered to be the outskirts of the solar system.
- Jupiter has a large ocean of liquid water.
- The Moon is the largest satellite of the Solar System.
- Pallas is considered the largest asteroid in the solar system.
- The brightest planet in the solar system is Venus.
- The solar system is mostly made of hydrogen.
- The Earth is an equal member of the solar system.
- The sun heats up slowly.
- Oddly enough, the largest reserves of water in the solar system are in the sun.
- The equator plane of each planet in the solar system diverges from the orbital plane.
- The satellite of Mars called Phobos is an anomaly in the solar system.
- The solar system can amaze with its diversity and scale.
- The planets of the solar system are influenced by the sun.
- The outer shell of the Solar System is considered to be the haven of satellites and gas giants.
- A huge number of planetary satellites of the solar system are dead.
- The largest asteroid, with a diameter of 950 km, is called Ceres.
How can you introduce the planets of the solar system to children? This question interests not only teachers, but also parents who want to introduce their children to astronomical observations. It is best to start a description of the solar system with the brightest star - the source of heat and energy.
For example, you can tell children that the planet appeared due to a violent explosion of several stars that occurred almost 4.5 billion years ago.
The origin of the solar system was studied by ancient astronomers, trying to connect the Sun with the phenomena that occurred on Earth.
Planets of the Solar System
Its center is the Sun, around which eight planets move in their own orbits, each of which deserves close attention.
An interesting fact is that until 2006, Pluto was also included in the structure of the solar system, calling it the ninth planet. But, after the size of the planet and the distance to the Sun were determined, astronomers found out that it was a dwarf planet, and therefore they began to refer it to the Kuiper belt.
Division into groups
When examining the structure of the solar system with schoolchildren, it can be noted that all planets are divided into groups:
- terrestrial group;
- gas giants.
The first group includes the following planets: Venus, Mercury, Mars, Earth. They are small in size, have a rocky surface, and are closest to the Sun.
The gas giants include: Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter. These planets are characterized by large sizes. Some have rings that are made up of icy dust and rocky chunks.
Sun
It is impossible without a story about this star. It is around it that the planets and satellites in the solar system revolve. The celestial body consists of helium and hydrogen. The age of the Sun is 4.5 billion years. Currently, it is in the center of its life cycle, and there is a gradual increase in size. After the same number of years, the star will expand and approach the Earth’s orbit.
It is the Sun that is the main source of light and heat for the Earth. The star changes its activity every 11 years. The temperatures on its surface are so high that no special apparatus has yet been able to come close to the star and take clear pictures.
Earth group
Astronomy for children includes an overview of each planet.
Mercury is a planet that can be called the smallest in the solar system.
Its diameter is only 4879 kilometers. Mercury is closest to the Sun. During the daytime, the temperature on the planet is about +350 degrees Celsius, and at night the figure drops to -170 degrees.
If we compare it with an earthly year, Mercury completes a full revolution around the sun in 88 days, and a day is equal to 59 earthly days. Astronomers have been able to establish that the speed of Mercury's rotation around the Sun changes periodically.
Mercury has no atmosphere, which is why the planet is often attacked by asteroids, which leave a huge number of craters on the surface.
Due to its proximity to the brightest star in our Galaxy, Mercury is poorly studied. Astronomers were able to detect helium, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, and sodium on the planet. What secret does this planet in the solar system have?
For children, it can be noted that according to one version, Mercury is considered former, but evidence for this theory has not yet been found.
Venus
This planet is the second farthest from the Sun. It is close in size to the Earth, its diameter is 12,104 kilometers. As for the other parameters, they differ significantly from our planet.
The length of a day on Venus is 242 Earth days; a year lasts 255 days. 95% of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide, which is why Venus creates a greenhouse effect, resulting in a temperature of 475 degrees Celsius. It was possible to detect 0.1% oxygen and 5% nitrogen in the atmosphere.
There is practically no liquid on Venus; it is covered with frozen basaltic lava. There is an interesting version according to which there were once oceans on the planet, but due to the high temperature, they evaporated and the solar wind carried the steam into outer space.
Weak winds are observed near the planet, but at an altitude of 50 kilometers, their speed increases significantly and reaches 300 m/s.
A large number of hills and craters were discovered on the planet, which resemble the earth's continents. The formation of craters is due to the fact that the planet once had a less dense atmosphere.
As a distinctive feature of Venus, one can note its movement from east to west, which is unusual for other planets. The reason for this anomaly is the ability of its atmosphere to completely reflect sunlight. Venus has no natural satellites.
Earth
When discussing how many planets there are in the solar system, one cannot fail to mention our Earth. It is located at a distance of 150 million kilometers from the Sun. This remoteness explains the comfortable temperature on our planet, suitable for liquid water. That is why the Earth in the solar system is the only planet on which there is life.
More than 70% of its surface was covered with water. There is a version according to which many thousands of years ago the atmosphere contained steam, which made it possible to create on the surface the temperature necessary for its transition to a liquid state of aggregation.
The Earth is a special planet in the solar system. After all, its atmosphere contains oxygen, which is necessary for the process of photosynthesis, as well as for the respiration of living organisms.
The diameter of our planet is 12,742 km.
The length of an earthly day is 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds. What is special about this planet in the solar system? It will be interesting for children to learn that in the depths of the planet there are huge tectonic plates, when they collide, the landscape changes.
In addition to oxygen, the earth's atmosphere contains inert gases, and 77% is nitrogen.
What other features does this planet in the solar system have? For children, you can prepare a story about how the Moon acts as a natural satellite of the planet, which is always turned to the Earth with one side.
Mars
Let's try to figure out the secret of the “red” planet of the solar system. For children, it should be noted that Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is much smaller than the Earth, its radius is only 6779 km. The planet allows temperature differences from -155 degrees to +20 degrees at the equator.
Mars has a weak magnetic field and a very thin atmosphere, so solar radiation penetrates unhindered onto the surface of the planet. Answering the question about the possibility of the existence of life on the planet, scientists come to the conclusion that living beings can only survive inside Mars.
Automatic devices that examined the surface of the planet discovered glaciers and dry river beds. Martian sand contains iron oxide, which gives the planet its red color.
There are often dust storms here that are destructive. 96% of the atmosphere of Mars is carbon dioxide, and the content of water vapor and oxygen is minimal. The planet has two satellites: Deimos and Phobos. They are small in size and have an uneven shape, similar to asteroids.
Gas giants
When discussing how many planets there are in the solar system, one cannot ignore Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn.
The largest planet in the solar system is Jupiter. The diameter of this planet is 19 times greater than that of Earth. Most of the planet is made up of argon, xenon, and krypton. There is helium and hydrogen in the atmosphere of this planet, but there is no water on the surface. Jupiter has about 67 satellites. Among the largest are: Europa, Callisto, Io, Ganymede.
Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system. It is similar in composition to the Sun. The planet's atmosphere contains hydrogen and a small amount of helium. In its upper layers, auroras and thunderstorms are often observed.
Saturn is unique in having 65 moons and several rings consisting of small particles of ice and rock formations.
Uranus is the third largest planet and the seventh largest planet from the Sun. Astronomers call it an “ice planet” because its surface temperature is -224 degrees.
Of the 27 satellites of Uranus, the largest are: Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Miranda.
Neptune is rightly called. Scientists have found that on this planet the wind speed reaches 700 m/s. The largest of the 14 moons of this planet is Triton.
Conclusion
In order to interest children in astronomical research, the teacher must choose the right material for an initial acquaintance with the planets of the solar system. Schoolchildren are interested in legends and myths told in such a way that children have a desire to independently find material about each planet.
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