The Eight Planets

Mercury and Venus

The hottest neighbours

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, while Venus is the hottest and brightest planet in our solar system.
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Key Points

  1. Mercury is the smallest planet and has no atmosphere to trap heat.
  2. Venus is called the 'Morning' or 'Evening' star because it shines so brightly.
  3. Venus is the hottest because its thick CO2CO_2 atmosphere traps heat.
  4. Both Mercury and Venus have no moons of their own.

Olympiad Fact

Venus rotates in the opposite direction (clockwise) compared to most other planets!

Earth and Mars

The Blue and Red planets

Earth is the only planet known to support life, while Mars is often called the Red Planet due to its rusty soil.
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Key Points

  1. Earth is called the 'Blue Planet' because 3/43/4 of it is covered in water.
  2. Mars has two small moons called Phobos and Deimos.
  3. Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons.
  4. Earth has one natural satellite, the Moon.

Olympiad Fact

Mars appears red because its surface is covered in iron oxide, which is the same as rust!

Jupiter and Saturn

The gas giants

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, and Saturn is famous for its beautiful, visible rings made of ice and dust.
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Key Points

  1. Jupiter is so big that more than 13001300 Earths could fit inside it.
  2. Jupiter has a famous storm called the 'Great Red Spot'.
  3. Saturn's rings are made of billions of pieces of ice, rocks, and dust.
  4. Both planets are made mostly of hydrogen and helium gases.

Olympiad Fact

Saturn is so light (low density) that it would float if you put it in a giant bathtub of water!

Uranus and Neptune

The ice giants

Uranus and Neptune are the furthest planets from the Sun. They are extremely cold and appear blue because of methane gas.
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Key Points

  1. Uranus is unique because it rotates on its side.
  2. Neptune is the windiest planet in the solar system.
  3. Neptune is the furthest planet from the Sun.
  4. Both planets have faint rings that are hard to see from Earth.

Olympiad Fact

Uranus was the first planet to be discovered using a telescope!

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