“Our Solar System” is an interactive simulation part of C3D-K12 STEM package.
The sun is the center of our solar system, and the source of the energy needed for life. Our solar system has 8 planets, numerous asteroids, meteors and comets all orbiting our sun, but only Earth has the right combination of temperature, water, and energy to support life as we know it.
These eight planets are divided into two groups.
The first group is the four closest to the sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are rocky inner planets.
Between the inner and outer planets lies the asteroid belt. Asteroids have no atmosphere, and are too small to be called planets. Rotation and revolution vary by asteroid. Many have rings or moons of their own, but they cannot support life.
The group of outer planets is made up of the gaseous planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Outside of Neptune’s orbit lies a region of icy objects known as dwarf planets. Pluto is the most famous since it was a real planet until 2006 when it was demoted to dwarf status.
Comets are snowballs of frozen gases, rock and dust. When a comet comes near the sun, the gases, rock and dust begin to melt and stream away from the sun to make the tail.