The solar system is a collection of celestial bodies orbiting the Sun, our star. These celestial bodies include eight planets, dozens of moons, millions of small bodies such as asteroids and comets, and clouds of dust and gas.
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The eight planets of the solar system are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These planets are divided into two categories: the inner or telluric planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) and the outer or gas giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune). The inner planets are smaller and more densely composed of rocks and metals, while the outer planets are larger and mainly composed of gases and liquids.
The Sun, which occupies the centre of the solar system, is a G-type star that shines thanks to the nuclear fusion reaction that takes place at its core. This reaction converts hydrogen into helium, releasing energy in the form of light and heat. The Sun is the most massive celestial body in the solar system, and its gravity has an influence on all the other celestial bodies.
Moons are celestial bodies that orbit planets. The Earth has just one moon, while other planets have several. For example, Jupiter has 79 known moons, some of which are larger than the planet Mercury.
Give your child a fun activity by colouring in pictures of the solar system. Discover our wide range of solar system colouring pages to download for free!