Horrible Science: The planets song

Part ofScienceHorrible Science

How many planets are in the Solar System?

Earth and the Moon travelling around the Solar System visiting all the rather horrible planets

The Solar System is made up of eight planets.

  1. Mercury
  2. Venus
  3. Earth
  4. Mars
  5. Jupiter
  6. Saturn
  7. Uranus
  8. Neptune

Each planet orbits the Sun and has different properties.

Earth and the Moon travelling around the Solar System visiting all the rather horrible planets
The planets of the Solar System orbiting around the Sun
Back to top

Watch: The Planets Song

Learn the order of the planets with this fun song.

Back to top

Five fun facts about the Solar System

The Moon looking a bit wary as it surveys a planet full of fire and volcanoes
  • Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are known as the rocky planets.

  • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the gas planets.

  • Mercury is the smallest planet and closest to the Sun.

  • Jupiter is the largest plant in the Solar System. The red spot on its surface is a gigantic storm that has raged for over 300 years!

  • Pluto used to be classed as a planet but is now known as a dwarf planet.

The Moon looking a bit wary as it surveys a planet full of fire and volcanoes
Back to top

Quiz: The planets

Back to top

The order of the planets

The Moon and The Earth dancing on the rings of Saturn – don't try this at home!

Trying to remember all the planets in the correct order can be tricky!

There are some mnemonics – a rhyme which can help you remember the order of the planets.

Here is an example:

My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming (Planets.)

Have a go at writing your own mnemonic.

The Moon and The Earth dancing on the rings of Saturn – don't try this at home!
Back to top

How to use Horrible Science in the classroom

If you're looking to bring energy, humour and curriculum-aligned content into your science lessons, Horrible Science might just be your new secret weapon.

How to use Horrible Science in the classroom
Back to top

More on Horrible Science

Find out more by working through a topic