El sistema solar

The Solar System

• The solar system is comprised of a star, the Sun, and the celestial bodies that orbit it due to its gravitational pull.
• Scientists believe the solar system was formed from a flat cloud of gas.
• Another theory states that the solar system was formed when a large object passed close to the Sun and pushed a stream of gas away from it.
• This stream of gas led to the formation of the planets.
• The solar system is estimated to be over 4 billion years old.

The Sun

• The Sun is the largest object in the solar system and accounts for 99% of its mass.
• The Sun is located in the outer arm of the Milky Way galaxy.
• The Sun is elliptical in shape and is responsible for generating a tremendous gravitational pull, which keeps all elements of the solar system orbiting around it.

Planets in the Solar System

• The solar system consists of 8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
• Each planet in the solar system is also orbited by natural satellites. Earth's moon is one example.
• Dwarf planets exist in the Kuiper belt, beyond the orbit of Neptune, such as the well-known Pluto.
• The Kuiper belt houses dwarf planets such as Makemake and Haumea.
• Eris and Ceres are also dwarf planets.

Other Elements in the Solar System

• The solar system is also comprised of asteroids, which are rocky bodies that can be miles in diameter.
• Meteoroids are small fragments of rock or metal, often found in the asteroid belt.
• Comets are icy and dusty bodies that move through space at thousands of miles per hour, orbiting the Sun.
• Scientists believe there are over 100 billion comets in the solar system.