The Solar System — Describe

Describe what the Solar System contains, from the Sun down to its smaller bodies.

(a) The Solar System contains one star, the Sun, at its centre. (b) Eight planets orbit the Sun; in order of increasing distance from the Sun these are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. (c) Minor planets also orbit the Sun, including dwarf planets such as Pluto, and asteroids, most of which are found in the asteroid belt (between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter). (d) Moons orbit the planets (they are natural satellites of the planets). (e) Other smaller Solar System bodies include comets (small bodies of ice, dust and rock that orbit the Sun, often in highly elongated/elliptical orbits) and other natural satellites.