As of November 2026, our solar system has eight planets. They circle the Sun, which is at the center. Pluto was once counted as a planet, but as of November 2026 it is called a dwarf planet.

The four planets closest to the Sun are rocky. They are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.

Mercury is the smallest planet. It is the closest to the Sun.

Venus is second from the Sun. It is the hottest planet. Its surface is hot enough to melt lead.

Earth is third from the Sun. The Sun is about 93 million miles from Earth.

Earth has one moon. About 71 percent of Earth is covered by water.

Mars looks red. Iron in its rocks and dust has rusted. Mars has two moons.

There is a belt of asteroids, which are rocky space rocks, between Mars and Jupiter. The belt is bits and pieces left over from the early solar system. They never came together into a planet.

Jupiter is the largest planet. It is a gas giant, so it has no true solid surface.

Jupiter has a giant storm called the Great Red Spot. The storm is bigger than Earth.

Words to know

• rusted: turned red-brown
• surface: outside layer
• rocky: made of rock
• asteroids: rocky space rocks