Image above: Mercury is hot and cold. Credit: NASA
Running Hot and Cold
Mercury is one of the hottest places in our solar system. It can also be among the coldest. From day to night, the temperatures can drop more than 600°C (1,080°F).
Speed Racer
Mercury is the fastest planet in our solar system. It zips around our Sun at about 172,000 kilometers per hour (107,000 miles per hour).
Venus
Image above: Venus is Earth's twin. Credit: NASA
Sister-Sister
Venus is Earth's twin. They are almost the same size. They are closer than any two planets.
Too Hot to Handle
Mercury is closer to the Sun, but it is not the hottest. Venus is really the hottest planet in our solar system. The gases around Venus trap the Sun's heat. It is so hot it can melt lead.
Night Light
Venus is the brightest planet in Earth's night sky. Venus outshines the other planets because it is closer to Earth. Its thick clouds reflect the Sun's light.
Image above: Dunking on Mars would be easier! Credit: NASA
Mars
Slam Dunk
Mars has much less gravity than Earth. There is a good chance just about anyone could dunk a basketball on Mars. But, you would have to wear a spacesuit. That might hold you down.
Jupiter
Image above: Jupiter is the largest planet. Credit: NASA
Hail to the King
Jupiter is the largest of the planets. More than one thousand Earths could fit inside Jupiter, if it were empty.
All of the other planets could fit inside Jupiter at the same time.
Storm of the Centuries
The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a storm. It is so big that almost three Earths could fit across it.
Moons Over Jupiter
There are more than 60 moons around Jupiter.
Image above: Saturn could float in water. Credit: NASA
Saturn
Cosmic Bath Toy
Saturn is the only planet in our solar system that could float in water.
Lord of the Rings
Saturn's rings could go almost from the Earth to the Moon. The rings are not solid. They are made of bits of ice and rock. Some pieces are as small as pebbles. Some are as big as a house.
