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Facts about planets allow students to learn about the solar system and its constituents. Each planet has unique characteristics ranging from Mercury’s scorching temperatures to Neptune’s icy winds. These planets are categorised into terrestrial and gas giants, with Earth as the only planet to support life. Understanding the features and planets’ facts can help students enhance their understanding of gravity and atmosphere. For instance, do you know which is the smallest planet in our solar system? Keep reading this blog to learn more interesting facts about planets in our solar system.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts About Planets: From Smallest to Biggest
As we discussed above, planets vary in size, distance, and characteristics. It is important for students to know the basics such as which planet is the smallest, largest, or hottest.
| Particulars | Planet Names |
| Smallest planet | Mercury |
| Largest planet | Jupiter |
| Second largest planet | Saturn |
| Earth’s closest planet | Venus |
| Earth’s distant planet | Neptune |
| Hottest planet | Venus |
| Coldest planet | Uranus |
| Planets with rings | Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune |
| Planets without rings | Venus, Mercury, and Earth |
| King of planets | Jupiter |
10 Facts About Planets for Kids
Planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in their elliptical paths. They differ in size, composition, atmosphere, and many other factors. Here are 10 important facts about planets.
1. The 8 planets in our solar system include Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
2. There are 5 dwarf planets in our solar system including Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
3. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the first four planets from the sun.
4. The inner planets of our solar system are called terrestrial planets as they have solid surfaces.
Source: Orbital Today | Picture of inner planets that are called terrestrial planets
5. Earth is the 5th largest planet.
6. Jupiter could fit about 1000 Earths inside if it was a hollow space.
7. Mercury’s temperature can range from extremely hot to cold. It is because of its position near the sun and the lack of atmosphere to retain the heat at night.
8. Mercury does not have rings or moons.
Source: Universe Space Tech | Picture of Mercury’s planet
9. Venus is called Earth’s twin due to its similar structure and size.
10. Venus is the 3rd brightest object after the Sun and Moon.
Also Read: 100 Interesting Facts about Solar System for Students
Interesting Facts About Planets
Planets in our solar system hold many secrets that make them interesting celestial bodies to study. While some have unique movements, others host traces of ancient resources. Here are some interesting facts about planets.
1. Venus is the only planet named after an ancient female Roman goddess.
2. Earth is the only planet with liquid water on the surface.
3. Jupiter experiences the shortest day in our solar system.
4. Pluto was named by an 11-year-old girl, taking inspiration from the Roman god of the underworld.
Source: Wikipedia | Pluto as imaged by the New Horizons spacecraft.
5. Mars is called the Red Planet because its iron minerals oxidize and give it a reddish appearance.
6. Earth is the only planet whose English name does not come from Greek or Roman mythology.
7. Mars has 2 small moons called Phobos and Deimos.
8. Earth is the only planet that has a single moon.
Source: Universe Today | Earth and Moon size comparison
9. Jupiter has the largest ocean in the solar system, made up of hydrogen instead of water.
10. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet.
11. Pluto was discovered in 1930.
12. Pluto has 5 moons.
Also Read: 100 Interesting Facts About Earth for Students
Scary Facts About Planets
Some planets have extreme atmospheres and unique characteristics, making them terrifying for readers. Here are some scary facts about planets you need to know.
1. Venus spins in the opposite direction from other planets.
2. Jupiter has 4 large moons and multiple smaller moons.
3. Venus is hotter than the innermost planet, charbroiled Mercury.
4. It is believed that Saturn’s rings are mostly made up of comets, asteroids, or shattered moons.
Source: University of California | Saturn and its rings
5. Pluto has various glaciers, valleys, and plains.
6. Mars is home to extinct volcanoes and polar ice caps.
7. Jupiter is made up of mostly helium and hydrogen.
Source: BBC Science Focus | Jupiter planet
8. Although Mercury is extremely hot, there is some evidence of ice on this planet.
9. NASA has found much evidence supporting the fact that Mars was warmer, wetter, and had a thicker atmosphere many years ago.
10. Jupiter is known for its stripes and swirls which are actually windy clouds of ammonia and water.
11. Saturn has dozens of moons.
12. No one knows why Venus does not have any moons like other planets.
FAQs
Some planet facts for kids include that our solar system has 8 planets and 5 dwarf planets, these are large celestial bodies, Jupiter is called the King of Planets, Uranus is the coldest planet, and lastly, Venus is the closest planet to the Sun.
Uranus is the coldest planet in our solar system. It is called an ice giant which appears to spin sideways. Most of its mass is made up of a dense fluid of icy water, methane, and ammonia.
Venus is called the hottest planet. It is the second planet from the Sun and is often called Earth’s Twin because of its similar structure and size. Its thick atmosphere traps heat from the Sun, making a kind of greenhouse effect. For instance, its temperature is hot enough to melt lead completely.
5 interesting facts about Earth include that it is the 3rd planet from the Sun, it is the 5th largest planet, it is the only planet with liquid water on the surface, it is the only planet whose name is not inspired by Greek or Roman mythology, and lastly, it takes 365.25 days to complete one trip around the Sun.
Uranus is the 7th planet from the Sun, it is called an ice giant, it rotates on its side, and lastly, it has faint rings. Interestingly, it has over 2 dozen small moons and a unique blue-green appearance.
5 interesting facts about Jupiter include that it is the 5th planet from the Sun, it is the oldest planet in our solar system, it rotates once every 10 hours, it has a strong magnetic field, and lastly, its atmosphere is mostly made up of hydrogen and helium.
Unlike other planets, Neptune has a very interesting appearance of pale green-blue colour. The methane present in its atmosphere absorbs red light and reflects blue light.
Interesting Reads
Hope you enjoy reading these facts about planets in our solar system. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!