Solar System

The Solar System comprises the Sun and the objects that orbit it, either directly or indirectly. Of those objects that orbit the Sun directly, the largest eight are the planets that form the planetary system around it, while the remainder are significantly smaller objects, such as dwarf planets, comets and asteroids.

Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer planets are giant planets, being substantially more massive than the terrestrials. The two largest, Jupiter and Saturn, are composed mainly of gas the two outermost planets, Uranus and Neptune, are ice giants. The Solar System also contains smaller objects. The asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, mostly contains objects composed of rock and metal. Six of the planets, at least three of the dwarf planets, and many of the smaller bodies are orbited by moons.

The Solar System is located in the Orion Arm, 26,000 light-years from the center of the Milky Way.