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The Solar System, located in the Milky Way Galaxy, is our celestial neighborhood. Our Solar System consists of 8 planets, several dwarf planets, dozens of moons, and millions of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. They are all bound by gravity to the Sun, which is the star at the center of the Solar System.

An illustration depicting the Sun on the lefthand side followed by each planet in order across the image horizontally.
Aviation
Spaceflight
Astronomy
Behind the scenes
People
Records and Firsts
Science
Society and Culture
Technology and Engineering
War and Conflict

The Solar System, located in the Milky Way Galaxy, is our celestial neighborhood. Our Solar System consists of 8 planets, several dwarf planets, dozens of moons, and millions of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. They are all bound by gravity to the Sun, which is the star at the center of the Solar System.

An illustration depicting the Sun on the lefthand side followed by each planet in order across the image horizontally.

Stories

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Scientists Strive to Explain the Strange Weather on Other Planets What Makes a Moon a Moon?
The Planets in Our Solar System – A Timeline Dr. Edward C. Stone's Contributions to Aerospace AirSpace Season 9, Episode 5: X-Ray Vision
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On demand

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Story Time: Mo the Mars Man Presented Online Watch On Demand Venus Rediscovered: An Astrobiological or Astrophysical Frontier? Presented Online Watch On Demand
Diamonds in the Sky: Stars and Exoplanets Presented Online Watch On Demand Now
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Events

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Learn more Interstellar Animation: Stop Motion With Students Professional Development Session Presented Online - Learn more One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Thursdays and Sundays at 10:30 am Learn more One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Thursdays and Sundays at 10:30 am
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Exhibitions

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Learn more U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Learn more Space Science Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
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Learning Resources

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Flights of Fancy Field Trip Pre and Post Visit Materials - Space Walk - Spanish A mixture of experiment and activites to expand learning on the Space Walk Storytime. Learn about space scientists and about the tools they use. The activities connect to Standards of Learning https://s.si.edu/SpaceWalkPreandPostVisitMaterials_es_us Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2 Astronomy, Moon (Earth), Telescopes, Solar System, Spaceflight

Teacher

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 Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Pluto's Secret" Book Talk Tune in to a special Flights of Fancy Story Time interview with the authors of the children's book Pluto's Secret. https://youtu.be/KHiQiL5K9po Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Astronomy, Science, Small solar system bodies, Solar System

Teacher

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 Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Pluto’s Secret" In this special author session, Margaret Weitekamp reads the book, Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery https://youtu.be/0bKXCaD4toc Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Dwarf planets, People, Science, Small solar system bodies, Solar System

Student

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 Flights of Fancy Story Time: "The Day the Earth Stopped Spinning" This story is about the orbiting and revolving Earth. https://youtu.be/ABY6SD0FMMg Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Astronomy, Solar System, Science

Student

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 Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Family of the Sun" Family of the Sun, which tells the story of the planets in our solar system. After the story, do a craft to make a solar system playset. https://youtu.be/HuOJNeYG6jk Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Astronomy, Aviation, Solar System, Uncrewed spaceflight, Spaceflight

Teacher

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 Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Mission to Mars" We return to our three friends as they imagine what it would be like to plan a trip, build a rocket, and travel on a mission to Mars. https://youtu.be/bNfrt_SumRY Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Human spaceflight, Rockets, Science, Solar System, Spaceflight

Student

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Publications

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Learn more Spaceflight: A Concise History Learn more Planetary Tectonics
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