The Solar System
A star system is a group of planets, meteors, or other objects that orbit a large star. While there are many star systems, including at least 200 billion other stars in our galaxy, there is only one solar system. That’s because our sun is known by its Latin name, Sol.
The solar system includes everything that is gravitationally drawn into the sun’s orbit. Astronomers have discovered there are many other large stars within our galaxy, the Milky Way. Use these resources to teach students about the objects and relationships within our solar system.
The diversity and wonder of the planets orbiting our Sun are unparalleled. Come explore our planetary neighborhood as though it were approaching our Sun from interstellar space. It is through this “outside-in” viewpoint that we might one day investigate other solar systems.
What is a planet?
Aeons ago, among the innumerable stars that remain motionless, humanity saw that a select few stars rotated in the night sky. Their term for them was “planets,” which translates to “wanderers.”
These planets are not stars at all, as we now know. These are solar-orbiting objects that are fairly close. Not every object that orbits our Sun is a planet—many are not! It’s not as easy as you may assume to define which ones are planets—just ask Pluto!
Who decides what a planet is?
Nine planets, ranging from Mercury to Pluto, were previously thought to orbit the Sun by scientists. However, they later found some quite massive objects orbiting beyond Pluto. Which ones belonged to the planets? Scientists were no longer in agreement. The topic was discussed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a global organization of scientists. A revised definition of a planet was put to a vote in 2006.
Our Solar System from the Outside In
Imagine coming into our solar system from beyond the stars. There are three different regions that you would pass through on your way toward our Sun. Many frigid worlds would be passed in the beginning. After that, you’d arrive in the solar system’s largest planets. At last, you would arrive at the nearest rocky planet to the Sun. Now let’s examine our solar system from the exterior in!
First Stop: Icy Worlds
The primary materials of worlds in our outer solar system are rock, other ices, and water ice. Their surfaces have been sculpted into bizarre landscapes via various methods. We have only recently begun to understand about them, their formation, and their interactions with the other planets in our solar system because of their great distance from Earth. Particularly, scientists are curious about whether all
Second Stop: Giant Planets
The four big planets in our solar system are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Larger than Earth, giant planets are incredibly massive, breathtakingly beautiful, and occasionally a touch strange. They are largely composed of gases rather than solids, and each one is orbited by a variety of moons. There are probably icy zones under the atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus. Our two largest planets are Saturn and Jupiter. The most common elements on the Sun, hydrogen and helium, make up the majority of them.
Third Stop: Rocky Planets
The majority of the material of Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury—the planets nearest to the sun—is rock. Their surfaces bear the scars of their geological past, their landscapes bearing witness to the forces that sculpted them. In their geological narratives, gravity, warmth, air, and water all have prominent roles. Earth
Awe-Inspiring Sun: The Heart of the Solar System
Uncover the mysterious secrets of the Sun as we venture into the core of our solar system. Explore its blazing brightness, magnetic storms, and solar flare dance, which produces a captivating rainbow of colors on the cosmic canvas.
Our solar system is powered by the Sun, a brilliant ball of glowing energy that surrounds all of the planets in its orbit with warmth and light. Explore its inside, where nuclear fusion is the dominant process that produces the radiant energy necessary to maintain life on Earth and power the planetary system’s celestial ballet.
Majestic Planets: Worlds Beyond Imagination
Take a journey around the solar system’s beauties, each of which is a singular work of heavenly artistry. Discover the various landscapes and fascinating features that embellish our cosmic backyard, from the stony terrains of terrestrial planets to the gas giants with their swirling storms.
Mysterious Moons: Guardians of Secrets
Explore the world of moons, the heavenly sentinels that gracefully orbit planets. Discover the mysteries that lie beneath their frozen exteriors, from water geysers to ancient oceans waiting to be discovered deep within space.
Cosmic Phenomena: Mysteries of the Universe Unraveled
Set out on a cosmic journey as we investigate the mysterious phenomena that mold the universe’s structure. Get ready to be enthralled with the wonders of the universe, from black holes consuming everything in their path to the captivating dance of galaxies throughout the cosmos.
Asteroids and Comets: Relics of the Solar System’s Past
Explore the worlds of comets and asteroids as we travel through the remains of the early solar system. Explore the enigmatic origins of these relics of primordial detritus, which were left behind by planet creation.
Interplanetary Travel: Exploring Beyond Boundaries
As we take a look into the future of interplanetary travel, join us on an exploratory voyage. Humanity’s ongoing exploration of space is evident in everything from robotic probes diving to grandiose space projects to settle far-off destinations.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Quest for Cosmic Companions
Come along on our search for evidence of alien life beyond Earth’s boundaries as we look for traces of extraterrestrial life. Examine the possibilities that life could exist in the remote regions of the solar system, such as the methane lakes on far-off planets or the subterranean oceans on frozen moons. Now There Are Dwarf Planets, Too!
The IAU Prague General Assembly also approved a new term, dwarf planet.
- is in orbit around the Sun,
- has enough mass for its gravity to make the object have a (nearly) round shape,
- has not cleared other large objects from the region it crosses during its orbit.
- is not a satellite of another object.
Pluto meets all of these requirements.