This illustration from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory shows the approximate sizes of the planets relative to each other. Note that the planets are not shown at appropriate distances from the Sun.

Learn some of the characteristics of Mars. These characteristics lead some people to believe that life forms may be found on the fourth planet from the Sun.

Use the following lithographs to envision the scale of our solar system. View different models of planets at different scales, an infographic about the relative sizes of the planets and distance from the sun, and images of the largest...

This Eight Planets site briefly describes solar wind, a low density stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun. It also provides the basics on the sun's composition and additional sun links.

Statistical data, general features, key terms, characteristics, and influences of the sun.

These hands-on activities are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.

Celestial navigation is the art and science of finding one's geographic position by means of astronomical observations, particularly by measuring altitudes of celestial objects - sun, moon, planets or stars. This activity starts with a...

Students use water balloons and a length of string to understand how gravity and the velocity of a spacecraft balance to form an orbit. They see that when the velocity becomes too great for gravity to hold onto an object, the object...

Learn fun facts and details about the geography and composition of Earth, the third closest planet to the sun and the only planet that contains life.

This site is astronomy for kids and teachers! Here students can learn about the planet Earth of the Solar System including fun facts, mass, day, year, and distance from the Sun.

Article reports on the recent discovery that many suns in the universe host "Earth-like" planets. Includes a vocabularly list.

Learn fun facts and details about the weather, geography, composition, and discovery of Mars, the fourth closest planet to the Sun.

Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Venus, the second closest planet to the sun.

While astronomers and philosophers have long mused on the possibility of other solar systems, the first planets confirmed to orbit a star other than our Sun weren't found until 1992. The reason it took so long is that it's really hard!...

Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Mercury, the closest planet to the sun.

Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, composition, and discovery of Uranus, the seventh closest planet to the sun.