Strange New Worlds | Explore
The Universe andSolar System
The universe is everything. It includes all of space, and all the matter and energy that space contains. It even includes time itself and, of course, it includes you.
ExplorePlanets
8 known planets orbit the sun
Dwarf Planets
5 known dwarf planets orbit the sun
Moons
200+ known moons in our solar system
Comets
4,584+ known comets so far
Interesting facts
Get to know about the Solar System
ONE OF BILLIONS
Our solar system is made up of a star, eight planets, and countless smaller bodies such as dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets.
MANY MOONS
The planets of our solar system and even some asteroids hold more than 200 moons in their orbits.
RING WORLDS
The 4 giant planets and at least one asteroid have rings. None are as spectacular as Saturn’s gorgeous rings.
SPIRALING THROUGH SPACE
The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy. There are 3 general kinds of galaxies: elliptical, spiral, and irregular.
A LONG WAY ROUND
It takes our solar system about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT
Our solar system is the only one known to support life. So far, we only know of life on Earth, but we’re looking for more everywhere we can.
Interesting facts
Get to know the planets
Did you know?
Planets are divided into 2 categories, based on their composition, Terrestrial & Jovian.
Terrestrial planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars.
Jovian planets include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune.
Jupiter & Saturn are Gas giants while Uranus & Neptune are Ice giants.
The 5 Dwarf planets are Pluto, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea & Eris.
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Nicknamed:
“Swift Planet”#1 Mercury
First Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 58 million km (36 million miles) or 0.4 Astronomical Unit (AU). Despite its proximity to the Sun, Mercury is not the hottest planet in our solar system.
Nicknamed:
“Morning & Evening Star”#2 Venus
Second Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 107 million km (66 million miles) or 0.7 AU. Venus is the hottest planet due to an atmosphere of carbon dioxide and extensive lava flows.
Nicknamed:
“Blue Planet”#3 Earth
Third Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 150 million km (93 million miles) or 1 AU. Our Home, the only planet in our solar system with liquid water on the surface and is inhabited by living things.
Nicknamed:
“Red Planet”#4 Mars
Fourth Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 228 million km (142 million miles) or 1.52 AU. Mars is a dusty, cold, desert world with a very thin atmosphere. The reddish hue is due to prevalence of iron oxide on its surface.
Nicknamed:
“Giant Planet”#5 Jupiter
Fifth Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 778 million km (484 million miles) or 5.2 AU. The giant planet's Great Red spot is a centuries-old storm bigger than Earth.
Nicknamed:
“Ringed Planet”#6 Saturn
Sixth Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 1.4 billion km (886 million miles) or 9.5 AU. Saturn is easily recognized for its spectacular ring system made of seven rings with several gaps and divisions between them.
Nicknamed:
“Ice Giant”#7 Uranus
Seventh Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 2.9 billion km (1.8 billion miles) or 19.8 AU. Uranus is the coldest planet in our Solar System, making the term “ice” seem very appropriate!
Nicknamed:
“Big Blue Planet”#8 Neptune
Eighth Planet in the Solar System
Distance From the Sun 4.5 billion km (2.8 billion miles) or 30.1 AU. Dark, cold, and whipped by supersonic winds, ice giant Neptune is the 8th and most distant planet in our solar system.
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The Sun and Moon
The Sun
The only Star in our Solar System
Our Sun is a 4.5 billion-year-old star, a hot glowing ball of hydrogen and helium at the center of our solar system.
Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from planets, asteroids, comets and tiny bits of space debris around it.
Other name:
“Sol”The Moon
Also known as Natural Satellite
The moon is an Astronomical Body coming in many shapes, sizes, and types.
Most planetary moons probably formed from the discs of gas and dust circulating around planets in the early solar system.
Other name:
“Luna”News & Blogs
