Earth and the Solar System

page 2

 

Earth belongs to the solar system, which has 8 planets that orbit around the Sun.

     >   Mercury – 1st planet (smallest, closest to Sun)

        

     >   Venus – 2nd planet (very hot)

     >   Earth – 3rd planet (life exists)

     >   Mars – 4th planet (red planet)

Earth is in the “habitable zone”, which means it is not too close and not too far from the Sun. This makes Earth’s temperature suitable for life. It also takes 365 days to orbit the Sun (1 year) and 24 hours to rotate once (1 day).