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==Planets==
==Planets==
A planet is defined as an object that orbits the [[sun]], is massive enough that its own gravity pulls it into a nearly round shape, and is dominant enough to clear away objects in its neighborhood. <ref>http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/planetsf-20060824.html</ref> There are 8 planets in the solar system. They are, in order of increasing distance from the sun:<ref>The third grade</ref>
A [[planet]] is defined as an object that orbits the [[sun]], is massive enough that its own gravity pulls it into a nearly round shape, and is dominant enough to clear away objects in its neighborhood. <ref>http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/planetsf-20060824.html</ref> There are 8 planets in the solar system. They are, in order of increasing distance from the sun:<ref>The third grade</ref>
*[[Mercury]]
*[[Mercury]]
*[[Venus]]
*[[Venus]]
*[[Uranus]]
*[[Uranus]]
*[[Neptune]]
*[[Neptune]]
The first four planets are [[terrestrial planets]], the last 4 planets are [[jovian planets]]. Terrestrial planets are small in size, have high densities, and consist of rocky materials. Jovian planets are large in size, have low densities, and consist of gaseous materials.
==Dwarf Planets==
==Dwarf Planets==
A dwarf planet is an object that orbits the sun and has a round shape. <ref>http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/planetsf-20060824.html</ref> The crucial difference between a planet and a dwarf planet is that a dwarf planet is not large enough to clear the neighborhood of its orbit. The only dwarf planet in the solar system is [[Pluto]]
A [[dwarf planet]] is an object that orbits the sun and has a round shape. The crucial difference between a planet and a dwarf planet is that a dwarf planet is not large enough to clear the neighborhood of its orbit. The only dwarf planet in the solar system is [[Pluto]]
==Asteroids==
==Asteroids==
[[Asteroids]] are irregularly shaped chunks of rocks in the solar system. They exist mostly in 2 places:
*The [[asteroid belt]], which is between the orbits of [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]]
*The [[Kuiper belt]], which shares its orbit with [[Pluto]]
==Comets==
[[Comets]] are chunks of dust and ice. Some are in an [[ellipse|elliptical]] orbit around the sun, meaning that they will return someday. Some are in a [[hyperbola|hyperbolic]] orbit around the sun, meaning that they will only come into the solar system once and will never return.
==References==
==References==