A Simple Look at the Solar System
- English level
- Level 2
- Topic
- Space
- Estimated reading time
- 2 mins

The solar system is so large that light takes over eight minutes to travel from the Sun to Earth.
It is made up of the Sun, eight planets, and many smaller objects such as moons and asteroids.
The Sun sits at the center and provides heat and light for everything around it.

The four planets closest to the Sun are small and rocky: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Earth is the only planet known to support life, thanks to its liquid water and atmosphere.
Beyond Mars lies the asteroid belt, a region full of rocks and small bodies orbiting the Sun.
Jupiter and Saturn are the two largest planets, and both are made mostly of gas.

Saturn is famous for its beautiful rings, which are made of ice and rock.
Uranus and Neptune are called ice giants because they contain a lot of frozen materials.
Neptune is the farthest planet from the Sun, and it has the strongest winds in the solar system.
Many planets have moons orbiting them, and some moons may even have conditions for life.

Humans have sent spacecraft to explore many parts of the solar system, including Mars and Jupiter.
We have learned a great deal about our neighbors in space, but many mysteries still remain.
The solar system will continue to inspire scientists and dreamers for many generations to come.
Key Vocabulary
Asteroid (n) A small rocky body orbiting the sun. large numbers of these, ranging enormously in size, are found between the orbits of mars and jupiter, though some have more eccentric orbits.UK: ˈæstərɔɪdUS: ˈæstərɔɪdLearn more
Atmosphere (n) The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.UK: ˈætməsfɪə(r)US: ˈætməsfɪrLearn more
Frozen (adj) Past participle of freeze.UK: ˈfrəʊ.zənUS: ˈfroʊ.zənLearn more
Gravity (n) The force that attracts a body towards the centre of the earth, or towards any other physical body having mass.UK: ˈɡrævətiUS: ˈɡrævətiLearn more
Inspire (v) Fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.UK: ɪnˈspaɪə(r)US: ɪnˈspaɪərLearn more
Moons (n) The natural satellite of the earth, visible (chiefly at night) by reflected light from the sun.UK: muːnzUS: munzLearn more
Orbit (n) The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft round a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.UK: ˈɔːbɪtUS: ˈɔːrbɪtLearn more
Planet (n) A celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit round a star.UK: ˈplænɪtUS: ˈplænɪtLearn more
Region (n) An area, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.UK: ˈriːdʒənUS: ˈriːdʒənLearn more
Spacecraft (n) A vehicle used for travelling in space.UK: ˈspeɪskrɑːftUS: ˈspeɪskræftLearn more

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