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 meteoroids, that are bound by gravity.

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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 gas giant?

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A gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of solid matter. The four gas giants in our Solar System are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

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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 orbit of other debris. Pluto is the most well-known dwarf planet.

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Which planet is known as the Red Planet?

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Mars is known as the Red Planet due to its reddish appearance, which is caused by iron oxide (rust) on its surface.

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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.

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What is the distance from the Earth to the Sun?

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The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is about 93 million miles.

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What are the inner planets?

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The inner planets, also known as terrestrial planets, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are rocky and have solid surfaces.

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What are the outer planets?

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The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are gas giants and are located farther from the Sun.

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What is an asteroid?

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An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.