This document provides an overview of our solar system and the universe. It describes the components of the solar system including planets, moons, asteroids and comets that orbit the sun. It then discusses galaxies as large clusters of stars, and that all galaxies together make up the universe. Finally, it provides brief descriptions of some key planets in our solar system - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune - noting some of their distinguishing characteristics.
3. The solar system is made up of all the planets that orbit our Sun .In addition to planets; the solar system also consists of moons, comets ,asteroids, meteoroids, minor planets ,dust and gas. Everything in the solar system orbits or revolves around the Sun. The eight planets are --- Mercury , Venus , Earth , Mars , Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus and Neptune.
5. The Milky Way galaxy , is commonly known as milky way . Our Earth is situated in the milky way galaxy .Our galaxy is the milky way . It Is known as ‘Aakash Ganga’ in hindi .
7. The twinkling spots of lights that we see in the sky at night are called stars . There are billions and billions of stars in the universe . Stars are self-luminous celestial bodies . They are huge balls of very hot gaseous matter that emit heat and light . The Sun is the star nearest to the Earth . Stars are formed from huge clouds of dust and gas .
9. Stars are found in very large clusters or groups . These clusters are called galaxies . A galaxy consists of group of groups of stars , dust , gas and other matter , bound together by a force called gravity .
11. There could be several million stars in a galaxy . All the galaxies together make up our universe .
12. Constellations When seen from the Earth , some of the stars in the sky appear to be arranged in reconisable patterns . Some look like animals , some like people , while some look like objects . These patterns stars appear to make in the sky are called constellations .
18. The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite . It revolves around the Earth and rotates on its axis . The Moon is about 384,403 km and has an approximate diameter of 3,476 km .
20. There is no air , water , wind , rain or snow . The Moon has no atmosphere . There is no life on the Moon . The surface has mountain and plain lands. There are big holes called craters . These were made by meteors .
22. The Moon does not have light of its own and reflects only the light that falls on it from the Sun . Moon does not change its shape at all . As it keeps on revolving around the Earth ,we see different parts of it lit up . This causes different shapes of the Moon called Phases of the Moon .
23. Planets A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star . All the planets are spherical in shape . They are non-luminious , i.e. , they do not produce light of their own . Instead , they reflect the light of the Sun that falls on them . Every planet spins on its own axis is called rotation . One complete movement around the Sun is called a revolution or planet-year.
25. Mercury , the planet near the Sun and is the second smallest planet in the solar system , only slightly larger than the Earth’s Moon . Mercury’s surface is covered with craters . This tiny planet does not have any rings or Moon .
29. Earth our home planet , is a seen from space . It is the third largest of the inner planets . Earth is the only planet known to support life and to have liquid water at the surface .
31. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun . Mars bright appearance and reddish color stand out in the night sky . Impressive surface features such as enormous volcanoes and valleys are frequently obscured by huge dust storms .
33. It is the largest planet in the solar system . When approached from a far , its fantastic striped atmosphere gradually reveals intriguing clouds that move around the planet . Rich in historical and cultural connections . Jupiter is the site of recent comet impacts and continuing scientific discovery .
35. The sixth planet from the Sun . It has the most spectacular set of rings in the solar system . Saturn to 60 Moons in addition to its complex ring system .
37. Uranus , the seventh planet from the Sun , has its spin axis almost in the plane of its orbit about the Sun . This produces unusual seasons and also causes unique magnetic and electric field structures . Uranus has a faint ring system and 27 known Moons .
39. Neptune , the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun , is a very cold planet Its bluish color is caused by small amount of methane gas in its atmosphere . The planet has 13 Moons and a very narrow , faint ring system .