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# Components of the Universe ## The Solar System The solar system consists of the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, dust, gases, and primarily empty space. ## The Sun The Sun is enormous compared to the Earth. It is 1.3 million times the size of our planet. The Sun creates a lot of gravity...

# Components of the Universe ## The Solar System The solar system consists of the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, dust, gases, and primarily empty space. ## The Sun The Sun is enormous compared to the Earth. It is 1.3 million times the size of our planet. The Sun creates a lot of gravity because it is so big. Gravity is a force that brings things together. The Sun is the largest thing in our solar system, so its gravity brings all the planets together. The Sun's gravity holds all eight planets in their orbits as they circle around it. Energy and light from the Sun travel to the Earth. This is a very long journey. The Sun is the closest star to the Earth, but it's still 93 million miles away! Lucky light is very speedy. Even though light moves very fast, it takes light from the Sun around eight minutes to reach us here on Earth.