Mercury is first. It is the smallest planet in our solar system.
2. Venus
Venus is second. It is the hottest planet in our solar system.
3. Earth
Earth is third. Earth is our home planet. It is the planet with living things.
4. Mars
Mars is fourth. Mars is the red planet.
5. Jupiter
Jupiter is fifth. It is the biggest planet in our solar system.
6. Saturn
Saturn is sixth. Saturn is the planet with beautiful rings.
7. Uranus
Uranus is seventh. It is the planet that spins on its side.
8. Neptune
Neptune is eighth. It is the coldest planet in our solar system. It is the farthest planet from the Sun.
What about Pluto?
Pluto is not one of the eight planets.
Pluto is now categorized as a dwarf planet.
You can find Pluto in the Kuiper Belt, past Neptune.
Middle School: The Planets in Order, With More Detail
Our solar system has eight planets and five officially recognized dwarf planets.
Some planets are small and rocky. Others are big and gassy.
1. Mercury — rocky planet
Mercury is the planet nearest to the Sun. It is the smallest planet in our solar system. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the inner planets, and they are rocky.
2. Venus — rocky planet
Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is the sixth largest planet. It is the hottest planet in our solar system.
3. Earth — rocky planet
Earth is our home planet. It is the third planet from the Sun. It is the fifth largest planet. It is the only place we know of inhabited by living things.
4. Mars — rocky planet
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is the seventh largest planet.
5. Jupiter — gas giant
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun. It is the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the outer planets. Jupiter and Saturn consist mostly of hydrogen and helium.
6. Saturn — gas giant
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is the second largest planet in our solar system. It is surrounded by beautiful rings.
7. Uranus — ice giant
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It is the third largest planet in our solar system. It appears to spin sideways. Uranus and Neptune are called ice giants.
8. Neptune — ice giant
Neptune is the eighth and most distant planet in our solar system. It is the fourth largest planet.
What about Pluto?
Pluto was long considered our solar system's ninth planet.
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union adopted a new definition of a planet. That new definition caused Pluto's demotion to a dwarf planet. It reduced the number of planets in our solar system from nine to eight.
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union.
The five dwarf planets are Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
Pluto lies in the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt is a wide ring of icy bodies just outside of Neptune's orbit. Pluto is the most famous of the objects in the Kuiper Belt.
Words to Know
Planet: A planet must do three things. It must orbit a star. It must be big enough to have enough gravity to force a spherical shape. And it must be big enough that its gravity cleared away any objects of a similar size near its orbit.
Orbit: An orbit is a regular, repeating path that one object in space takes around another one.
Solar system: Our solar system includes the Sun, eight planets, five officially named dwarf planets, hundreds of moons, and thousands of asteroids and comets.
Dwarf planet: Pluto is now categorized as a dwarf planet, along with Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris.
Kuiper Belt: The Kuiper Belt is a wide ring of icy bodies just outside of Neptune's orbit.
📚 Study helper: Great job! Now try this. Cover the list. Can you say all eight planets in order? Then check your answer.
Sources
NASA Space Place — Solar System: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/solar-system/
NASA Space Place — All About the Planets: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/planets/en/
NASA Space Place — All About Pluto: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-pluto/en/
NASA Space Place — What Is the Kuiper Belt?: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/kuiper-belt/en/
NASA Space Place — What Is a Planet?: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/planet-what-is/en/
NASA Space Place — What Is an Orbit?: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/orbits/en/
NASA Space Place — Is There Ice on Other Planets?: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ice-on-other-planets/en/
NASA Science — About the Planets: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/
NASA Science — Solar System Exploration: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/
NASA Science — Studying Our Solar System: https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-science/focus-areas/