Solar System Planets
REFThe 8 Planets
☿ Mercury
Distance from Sun: 57.9 million km (0.39 AU)
Diameter: 4,879 km
Orbital Period: 88 Earth days
Type: Terrestrial (Rocky)
Moons: 0
Fun Fact: Smallest planet, no atmosphere, extreme temperature variations
♀ Venus
Distance from Sun: 108.2 million km (0.72 AU)
Diameter: 12,104 km
Orbital Period: 225 Earth days
Type: Terrestrial (Rocky)
Moons: 0
Fun Fact: Hottest planet, thick toxic atmosphere, rotates backwards
🜨 Earth
Distance from Sun: 149.6 million km (1.00 AU)
Diameter: 12,742 km
Orbital Period: 365.25 days
Type: Terrestrial (Rocky)
Moons: 1 (The Moon)
Fun Fact: Only known planet with life, 71% water coverage
♂ Mars
Distance from Sun: 227.9 million km (1.52 AU)
Diameter: 6,779 km
Orbital Period: 687 Earth days
Type: Terrestrial (Rocky)
Moons: 2 (Phobos, Deimos)
Fun Fact: Red planet due to iron oxide, tallest volcano in solar system
♃ Jupiter
Distance from Sun: 778.5 million km (5.20 AU)
Diameter: 139,820 km
Orbital Period: 11.9 Earth years
Type: Gas Giant
Moons: 95+ (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto)
Fun Fact: Largest planet, Great Red Spot storm, strong magnetic field
♄ Saturn
Distance from Sun: 1.43 billion km (9.54 AU)
Diameter: 116,460 km
Orbital Period: 29.4 Earth years
Type: Gas Giant
Moons: 146+ (Titan, Enceladus, Mimas)
Fun Fact: Famous ring system, lowest density (would float in water)
♅ Uranus
Distance from Sun: 2.87 billion km (19.19 AU)
Diameter: 50,724 km
Orbital Period: 84 Earth years
Type: Ice Giant
Moons: 28+ (Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon)
Fun Fact: Rotates on its side, methane gives blue-green color
♆ Neptune
Distance from Sun: 4.50 billion km (30.07 AU)
Diameter: 49,244 km
Orbital Period: 164.8 Earth years
Type: Ice Giant
Moons: 16+ (Triton, Proteus, Nereid)
Fun Fact: Strongest winds in solar system, deep blue color from methane
About the Solar System
Our solar system consists of 8 planets orbiting the Sun. The inner four (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) are terrestrial planets with solid rocky surfaces. The outer four (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) are much larger gas and ice giants. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. The planets vary dramatically in size, composition, temperature, and orbital characteristics.