The Earth In The Solar System

The Solar System

The Sun

The Sun is the centre of the solar system and the primary source of heat and light for all the planets. It is a massive ball of hot gases and accounts for 99.86% of the total mass of the solar system. All planets revolve around it due to its immense gravitational pull.

Planets

There are eight planets in the solar system, listed in order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets revolve around the Sun in fixed paths known as orbits. The inner four (Mercury to Mars) are rocky, while the outer four (Jupiter to Neptune) are gas giants or ice giants.

The Earth

Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet to support life. It has an atmosphere that contains oxygen, a suitable climate, and water — all necessary for life. It takes about 365 days to complete one orbit around the Sun and rotates on its axis in about 24 hours.

The Moon

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite. It revolves around the Earth in about 27 days and reflects sunlight. Though it appears bright in the night sky, it has no light of its own. It has a barren, dusty surface and no atmosphere or water.

Asteroids

Asteroids are small, rocky bodies that mostly lie between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in a region called the Asteroid Belt. They are remnants of the early solar system and vary greatly in size.

Meteoroids

Meteoroids are small chunks of rock or metal that travel through space. When they enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn due to friction, they produce a streak of light called a meteor or "shooting star". If they survive the journey and land on Earth, they are called meteorites.