Our Solar System

This is a diagram of our solar system. It shows the eight planets that orbit, or circle around, our Sun. Earth is the third planet from the Sun.

A solar system is made up of a star and all the objects that travel in orbit around it. Our solar system consists of the Sun (the star that lies at the center), eight planets, natural satellites (such as our moon) which orbit planets, tiny dwarf planets (like Pluto), asteroids, and comets. Our solar system is located in an outward spiral of the Milky Way galaxy.

You can explore a map of our solar system, compare the eight planets, and learn how many moons our solar system includes by visiting NASA's Space Exploration website.

A Traveler's Guide to the Planets of the Solar System: