10 Need-to-Know Things About the Solar System Worksheet
Our solar system consists of our star, the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity — the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, dwarf planets such as Pluto, dozens of moons and millions of asteroids, comets and meteoroids. Beyond our own solar system, we have discovered thousands of planetary systems orbiting other stars in the Milky Way.
1. ONE OF BILLIONS:
Our solar system is made up of a star, eight planets and countless smaller bodies such as dwarf planets, asteroids and comets.
2. MEET ME IN THE ORION ARM:
Our solar system orbits the center of the Milky Way Galaxy at about 515,000 mph (828,000 kph). We’re in one of the galaxy’s four spiral arms.
3. A LONG WAY ROUND:
It takes our solar system about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.
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