---

Annie Armstrong
was visiting Mike’s school.

She talked to some of the students.

 

Sally:       

Annie, is the sun really a star ?

 

Annie:    

Yes, it is.
The sun is a star.

It is a very important star

because it gives
heat and light

to the planets
in the Solar System.

 

Mike:      

Annie, my grandfather
wants to know

why there are
only eight planets

in the Solar System now.

He learned that
there were nine planets.

---

Annie:    

Well, Pluto
was considered to be

in the group of main planets
until 2006.

In 2006
scientists decided

that Pluto
could no longer 
be a part of
that group.

Then they
reclassified Pluto

as a dwarf planet.

---

Tony:      

I don’t know what

“The Asteroids” are.

---

Annie:    

The Asteroids
are big pieces

of rock or metal

and they orbit the sun.

There is a
very big group

of asteroids
between

Jupiter and Mars.

---