Question 1

What is the solar system?

Accepted Answer

The solar system is the Sun and everything that moves around it. This includes planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and other space rocks.

Question 2

How many planets are there in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

There are eight planets in our solar system. They are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Question 3

Which planet is closest to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is really hot there because it is so close!

Question 4

Why is Earth special in the solar system?

Accepted Answer

Earth is special because it’s the only planet we know of where people and animals can live. It has air to breathe and water to drink.

Question 5

What are moons?

Accepted Answer

Moons are natural objects that orbit, or go around, planets. They come in all shapes and sizes and are sometimes called 'satellites.'

Question 6

How many moons does Jupiter have?

Accepted Answer

Jupiter has more than 75 moons! The biggest ones are called the Galilean moons, named after the person who discovered them.

Question 7

What is the biggest planet in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system. It's huge and mostly made of gas, not solid ground.

Question 8

Why is Saturn famous?

Accepted Answer

Saturn is famous for its beautiful rings, which are made of ice and rock. The rings look amazing and can be seen with a telescope.

Question 9

Is Pluto still a planet?

Accepted Answer

Pluto used to be called a planet, but now it's called a 'dwarf planet.' It’s smaller than the other planets and has a different kind of path around the Sun.

Question 10

What is an asteroid belt?

Accepted Answer

The asteroid belt is a big ring of rocks and metal that orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. These rocks are leftovers from when the solar system was formed.

Question 11

What is a comet?

Accepted Answer

A comet is a space object made of ice, dust, and rock. When it gets close to the Sun, it has a glowing tail that we can see if we’re lucky.

Question 12

What is the Sun?

Accepted Answer

The Sun is a big, hot ball of gas that gives us light and heat. It is the center of our solar system and keeps all the planets in their orbits.

Question 13

What is the hottest planet?

Accepted Answer

Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system. Its thick clouds trap heat like a blanket, making it even hotter than Mercury.

Question 14

Why is Mars called the Red Planet?

Accepted Answer

Mars is called the Red Planet because its surface looks reddish. This is because of iron oxide, or rust, on its surface.

Question 15

What is a galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A galaxy is a huge group of stars, planets, gas, and dust, held together by gravity. Our solar system is in a galaxy called the Milky Way.

Question 16

Can we live on any other planets?

Accepted Answer

Right now, we can only live on Earth because it has everything we need like air and water. Scientists are studying other places, like Mars, to see if we could live there one day.

Question 17

What is the smallest planet in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. It’s even smaller than some of the biggest moons!

Question 18

How do planets stay in their orbits?

Accepted Answer

Planets stay in their orbits because of the Sun’s gravity. It's like an invisible force that pulls them toward the Sun while they move around it.

Question 19

What is space?

Accepted Answer

Space is the huge area outside of Earth's atmosphere where all the planets, stars, and galaxies are. It's mostly empty, with no air to breathe.

Question 20

Why does the Moon look like it changes shape?

Accepted Answer

The Moon looks like it changes shape because of its different lit-up parts, called phases. We only see parts that are lit by the Sun, and those parts change as the Moon moves around Earth.

The Solar System: An Overview of Planets, Moons, and Beyond - 20 FAQs Explained Simply