🪐 Solar System

8 planets · orbital mechanics · comparative sizes · click to explore

Click a planet to see detailed information.

What is this?

Our solar system contains the Sun and everything orbiting it — 8 planets, dozens of moons, asteroids, and comets — all held together by gravity across billions of kilometres.

Why does it matter?

Studying the solar system helps us understand Earth's climate, develop space technology, and explore the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.

Key terms
Orbit — the curved path a planet follows around a larger body due to gravity Astronomical Unit (AU) — the average Earth–Sun distance; about 150 million km Rocky planet — dense, solid-surface planet (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) Gas giant — large planet of hydrogen and helium with no solid surface (Jupiter, Saturn) Period (year) — time for one planet to complete a full orbit around the Sun Gravity — the force that pulls objects with mass toward each other
🎯 Try this challenge

Which planet has the longest year? How many Earth years does one orbit take? Click each planet card to find out, then compare the orbital periods of all 8 planets.

Continue Learning
Human Body