Solar System

The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the objects that orbit it, either directly or indirectly. Of the objects that orbit the Sun directly, the largest are the eight planets, with the remainder being smaller objects, the dwarf planets and small Solar System bodies. Of the objects that orbit the Sun indirectly—the natural satellites—two are larger than the smallest planet, Mercury. The Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun, with the majority of the remaining mass contained in Jupiter. The four smaller inner system planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are terrestrial planets, being primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer system planets are giant planets, being substantially more massive than the terrestrials.

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A Solar System Is Born: Planet-Forming “Pebbles” Detected Around Two Distant Young Stars

A 7-Billion-Year-Old Ice Ball Just Entered Our Solar System

A newly discovered interstellar object might predate the solar system

See interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS zoom through solar system in new telescope imagery (video)

Trump’s NASA budget could cede solar system to China, scientists warn

The birth of a solar system revealed by planet 'pebbles'

The birth of a solar system revealed by planet 'pebbles' - EurekAlert!

Third Interstellar Object, Comet 3I/ATLAS, Is Traveling Through Solar System

NASA confirms that mysterious object shooting through the solar system is an “interstellar visitor”

Meteorite causes rethink of how and when our solar system formed

A third visitor from another star is hurtling through the solar system

New Interstellar Object Comet 3I/ATLAS—What We Know So Far as It Zips through the Solar System

The Minor Planet Center has designated 3I/ATLAS = C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), or informally "Comet ATLAS", a new interstellar comet that is currently about 4.5 AU from the Sun and screaming through the solar system at 58 km/s (130000 mph)

Scientists spot mystery object believed to come from beyond solar system | Astronomer says object could be further evidence that ‘interstellar wanderers’ are common in galaxy

Large unidentified object detected entering our solar system

New interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is hurtling through the solar system — and you can watch it live online today

It's Official: NASA Confirms New Interstellar Object Is Zooming Through Solar System

New interstellar object candidate heading toward the sun. Called A11pl3z, it is the third interstellar visitor known in our solar system

Interstellar visitor spotted hurtling through the solar system

Interstellar comet hurtling through solar system named 3I/ATLAS