The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by gravity, The Sun's retinue of objects circle it in a nearly flat disc called the ecliptic plane, in which most of the mass is contained within eight relatively solitary planets whose orbits are nearly circular. The four smaller inner planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, also called the terrestrial planets, are primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, also called the gas giants, are composed largely of hydrogen and helium and are far more massive than the terrestrials.
The Planets
Planets are generally divided into two main types: large, low-density gas giants, and smaller, rocky terrestrials. Under IAU definitions, there are eight planets in the Solar System. In order from the Sun, they are the four terrestrials, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, then the four gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Images of some of the other common
celestial bodies
Created By: Rashan Thompson
Date: April 21, 2009
E-mail: rashan.thompson@stu.bcc.cuny.edu
External Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System