Are YOU smarter than our space minister? Test your knowledge with our interactive tool about the solar system, after Andrew Griffith ‘confused Mars for the Sun and Saturn for Jupiter’

Space Minister Andrew Griffith appeared to make an embarrassing mistake this week when he became confused Mars with the sun.

During a visit to the Science Museum, he was also reportedly stunned by an exhibit showing the surface of the fabric Jupiter, which he incorrectly identified Saturn.

But can you tell the difference between the planets just by looking at their surfaces?

MailOnline has put together this interactive tool to improve your knowledge of the solar system of the Mercury to the moon.

Mr Griffith’s blunder came during a visit to the museum in west London, where the minister discussed Britain’s prospects as a space-faring nation.

He reportedly pointed to an exhibit showing the surface of the planets in the solar system and exclaimed, “Now we’re at Mars!”.

Mr Griffith was then told by a member of the museum staff that he was in fact pointing at the sun.

According to an interview with The House magazine, when the exhibit changed again, Mr. Griffith kept saying, “That’s Saturn.”

Again, an employee replied, “No, no, that’s Jupiter.”

During the interview, Mr Griffith also played down his prospects of becoming the first British minister to venture into space.

He said, ‘Would I like to be the prime minister in space? I find the whole idea of ​​space exploration fascinating.

‘It’s a hugely good thing that people like Tim Peake and others are doing that, but I have a lot of respect for the amount of skill that goes into it.’