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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This spacecraft swarm could spot interstellar visitors zipping through our solar system

2 newly found exoplanets reignite an outstanding question about our solar system

Scientists Observe Carbon Dioxide on Planets Outside the Solar System for the First Time

Meteorites and asteroids tracked back to their place of origin in the solar system

JWST Detects Carbon Dioxide Outside Solar System For First Time

NASA’s Next Mission Could Finally Solve the Mystery of Our Solar System’s Edge

Webb telescope captures its first direct images of carbon dioxide outside solar system

JWST captures its first direct images of carbon dioxide outside solar system

Webb telescope captures its first direct images of carbon dioxide outside solar system - EurekAlert

Ancient Asteroid Unlocks 4.6-Billion-Year-Old Magnetic Secrets of the Solar System

Study Traces Our Solar System's Journey Through a Massive Galactic Wave

'Primordial' helium from the birth of the solar system may be stuck in Earth's core

Experimenting with a 3d visualization of our solar system

The solar system is teeming with 1 million 'alien invaders' from Alpha Centauri

The solar system was once engulfed by a vast wave of gas and dust

Beyond our solar system: scientists identify a new exoplanet candidate

'Primordial' helium from the birth of the solar system may be stuck in Earth's core

The Solar System is Taking a Fascinating Journey Through the Milky Way

How to see every planet in the solar system at once this week

The Solar System is Taking a Fascinating Journey Through the Milky Way