The solar system has eight main planets, listed in order from the Sun:

• Mercury
• Venus
• Earth
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune

Pluto was once considered the ninth planet, but it's now classified as a "dwarf planet." Many solar system toys and kits at Walmart include all eight planets, and some even include Pluto for extra fun and learning.

Mercury takes just 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun, so a year there is much shorter than on Earth. To find your age on Mercury, divide your Earth age by about 0.24 (since Mercury years are about a quarter as long). For example, a 12-year-old on Earth would be about 50 Mercury years old! This makes learning about planets a fun way to explore math and science with solar system kits or educational toys from Walmart.

Pluto was reclassified as a "dwarf planet" in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union. This happened because Pluto doesn't clear its orbit of other objects, which is one of the criteria for being a planet. Even though Pluto isn't officially a planet, many solar system models and toys still include it, so kids and space fans can learn about all the interesting objects in our solar system.

When the Sun uses up its hydrogen fuel, it will go through several changes over billions of years. First, it'll expand into a red giant, possibly engulfing the inner planets. Eventually, the Sun will shed its outer layers and become a white dwarf. This process is a fascinating topic for science kits and solar system learning toys, helping kids understand the life cycle of stars and the future of our solar system.

There are lots of hands-on ways for kids to explore the solar system at home:

• Build planet models with DIY kits or building blocks.
• Use projectors or glow-in-the-dark stickers to create a mini planetarium in their room.
• Read books about space and planets for fun facts and stories.
• Try STEM activities like assembling planet puzzles or using educational flash cards.

Walmart offers a variety of solar system toys and learning tools to spark curiosity and make science exciting for all ages.