Venus, the second planet from the sun, is the closest planet to Earth and one of the brightest objects we see in the sky. It is sometimes referred to as Earth's 'sister planet' because of their similar size, mass, composition, and proximity to the sun. It spins slowly in the opposite direction than most planets.

Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, is a dusty, cold, desert world with a thin atmosphere. This dynamic planet has seasons, polar ice caps, extinct volcanoes, canyons, and weather. One of the most explored bodies in the solar system, Mars is the only planet where we've sent rovers to roam the alien landscape.

Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun, is the largest planet in our solar system. After the Moon and Venus, it's usually the next brightest object in the night sky. This gas giant, made mostly of hydrogen and helium, is easily recognized by its alternating dark belts and light zones as well as the Great Red Spot, a storm larger than the Earth.

Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun, is the second-largest planet in our solar system by mass and size and the most distant planet easily visible to the unaided eye from Earth. This gas giant made mostly of hydrogen and helium is easily recognized by its yellowish color, magnificent rings, and oblate—or flattened at the poles—shape.

Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun. It has the third-largest radius of all the planets. It has 13 faint rings and 27 small moons. But a characteristic that sets Uranus apart: It spins on its side as it orbits the sun. That trip takes about 84 Earth years.