Learn the Order of the Planets

We live on planet Earth, which is part of the Solar System.

 

Can you name any of the other planets in our Solar System?

 

You may have named the Sun, but the Sun is actually a star.

The Sun sits at the very centre of our Solar System.

 

 

The Earth and seven other planets all orbit (move around) the Sun.

 

The diagram below shows the Sun and the eight planets making up the Solar System.

 

 

Can you see that the planets are all different sizes and some are closer to the Sun than others?

It is helpful to know which planets are closest to the Sun.

 

We can use this handy mnemonic to help us remember the order of the planets from the Sun.

 

My (Mercury)

Very (Venus)

Excited (Earth)

Mother (Mars)

Just (Jupiter)

Served (Saturn)

Us (Uranus)

Nachos (Neptune)

 

There are two planets beginning with M, so make sure that you remember that Mercury is closest to the Sun.
 

In this activity, you’ll be answering questions about the planets and how close they are to the Sun. Are you ready?