How are planets affected by their distance from the sun?
Closer planets have had most of their hydrogen pulled away by the Sun’s gravity. That’s why the inner four planets are rocks, while the outer planets are larger gas giants. In addition to being hotter from being closer, they also rotate around the sun faster. The Sun’s gravity also will peel away lesser moons – Mercury and Venus have no moons, while Earth has a big one, and Mars two small ones. Jupiter and Saturn each have dozens of moons, and rings.
