Our Solar System
Class 6 Science · Chapter 12: Beyond Earth · NCERT Curiosity section 12.3
Learn
The Sun has a family: eight planets go around it in paths called orbits. In order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Together with moons, asteroids and comets, this is the solar system.
The four inner planets are small and rocky. The four outer planets are giants made mostly of gas and ice; Jupiter is the biggest and Saturn has beautiful rings. Planets do not make their own light: they shine by reflecting sunlight.
A moon (natural satellite) goes around a planet. Earth has one Moon. Between Mars and Jupiter is a belt of rocky asteroids; icy comets grow long glowing tails when they come close to the Sun. In 2023, India's Chandrayaan-3 landed near the Moon's south pole.
Explore: line up the planets.
- Put the eight planets in order from the Sun.
Remember
- Eight planets orbit the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
- Inner planets are rocky, outer ones are giants; planets shine by reflected sunlight.
Quick check
Which planet is the largest?
- Jupiter
- Earth
- Mars
- Venus
Answer
Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.
Think about it
Venus is often seen shining brightly just after sunset or before sunrise. Is it a star? How do you know?
One answer
No, it is a planet. It shines by reflecting sunlight, it does not twinkle like stars usually do, and it changes its position among the stars over weeks.
Practice
Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.