solar system videos for kids

Posted by sulay on August 29th, 2019

solar system videos for kids 

The number of galaxies in the universe is largely unknown to humans. In fact, scientists speculate that there may be an infinite number of galaxies. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is estimated to host about 100 billion planets most of which orbit a star. In the near past, astronomers have discovered hundreds of planets in our galaxy, some of whom exhibit some Earth-like characteristics. Our solar system comprises of the sun, eight planets and their moons, and several small solar system bodies.

Previously, Pluto was considered to be the ninth planet in the Solar System. However, in 2006, Pluto was demoted to the status of a "dwarf planet". This was due to more concrete, strict definitions of what a planet is. In order to constitute as a planet, an object must not only orbit the Sun, but must also have large enough mass that gravity can create a rounded shape. A potential planet must also be the most important object in its "neighborhood". As Pluto has close neighbors, it no longer counts as a planet in its own right.

The planets in the Solar System are as follows:

• Mercury 
• Venus 
• Earth
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is also the smallest planet in our solar system. Mercury completes a full revolution around the sun in 88 days. It is a rocky planet with an equatorial radius of 1,516 miles. Interestingly, Mercury does not have an atmosphere. This means that the temperature on Mercury can fluctuate from 840 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to minus 275 F during the night!

7. Venus

Venus is the second closest planet to the sun. Venus is also the hottest planet with a mean temperature of 863 °F. The atmosphere on Venus is dense and traps warm air within it. Venus is Earth's closest neighbor.

Venus has the longest revolution and rotation times of any planet in the solar system. Venus takes 224.7 Earth days to revolve around the sun. The rotation of Venus on its axis is so slow that it takes the equivalent of 243 Earth days to complete a single rotation, which means a single day on Venus is longer than a whole year on Venus.

6. Earth

Planet Earth is the only planet known to host life. It completes a revolution around the sun every 365.256 days. It is 92,955,820 miles away from the sun and is the third planet closest planet to the sun.

It is estimated that the formation of Earth began 4.54 billion years ago. Its total surface area is 196,940,000 square miles, 71% of which is covered by water while the remaining 29% is covered by land. The Earth’s atmosphere protects life from uninhabitable space, shields us from harmful radiation, and controls the weather. Earth is the densest planet in the Solar System.