The Solar System

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What is the Solar System?

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The Solar System is a collection of celestial bodies, including the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other objects that are bound by gravity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

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How many planets are in the Solar System?

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There are eight recognized planets in the Solar System: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

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What is a galaxy?

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A galaxy is a massive system that contains stars, star clusters, planetary systems, and interstellar gas and dust, all bound together by gravity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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What is the closest planet to the Sun?

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Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.

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What is the largest planet in the Solar System?

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Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

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What is a dwarf planet?

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A dwarf planet is a celestial body that orbits the Sun and is similar to a planet but does not clear its orbital path of other debris.

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Name an example of a dwarf planet.

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Pluto is an example of a dwarf planet.

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What is the Kuiper Belt?

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The Kuiper Belt is a region of the Solar System beyond Neptune that contains many small icy bodies, including dwarf planets like Pluto.

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What is the main component of the Solar System's mass?

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The Sun contains 99.8% of the mass in our Solar System.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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What are asteroids?

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Asteroids are small rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.