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Solar System

The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system comprising the Sun and all the celestial bodies that orbit it, including the eight planets, their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other objects. The major planets in the Solar System, in order of their distance from the Sun, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The Solar System formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a region within a large molecular cloud. It is located in one of the spiral arms of the Milky Way galaxy, known as the Orion Arm. The Sun, a medium-sized star, contains more than 99% of the total mass of the Solar System and is the primary source of light and energy for the planets and other objects. The relationships and interactions among the various bodies within the Solar System are governed by gravitational forces, resulting in complex orbits and phenomena such as eclipses and tides. The study of the Solar System includes the exploration of planets and their characteristics, as well as the examination of the potential for life beyond Earth.