This story is from Tar Heel Reader. Follow this link to see the original and to find the photo credits. http://tarheelreader.org/2011/11/30/the-solar-system-its-outta-this-world/

1. The Solar System: It's Outta this World! by schulaao

2. This is our solar system.

3. Our solar system has 8 planets.

4. These planets orbit or circle around the sun.

5. The sun is very hot.

6. This is the planet Mars. It is a cold planet. Cold planets are far away from the sun.

7. This is the planet Neptune. It is far away from the sun. It is the last planet.

8. This is the planet Mercury. It is close to the sun. It is the first planet.

9. The small dot is the planet Venus. It is a dry planet. Dry means there is no water there.

10. This is the planet Earth. It is our home. Our planet is wet. Wet means there is a lot of water. Water lets animals and plants live on our planet.

11. This is the planet Saturn. It has a thick ring.

12. This is the planet Uranus. It has a thin ring.

13. This is the moon. It is made of solid rock.

14. This is the planet Jupiter. It is made of gas. It is not solid.

15. The people who explore space are called astronauts.

16. Astronauts travel very far into space to explore the planets.

17. Astronauts explore the planets in space shuttles.

18. Space is an amazing place!