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The Nine Planets

Solar System Tour

Solar System Scope is an incredibly accurate solar system tour, allowing you to explore the solar system, the night sky and outer space in real-time.

All of the objects on the tour are accurately positioned based on where they are right this very second, and the tour contains interesting facts and information about the many objects in space.

Every now and then, don’t you wish you could just pack your bags and jet off on an exciting, awe-inspiring journey across our breathtaking solar system? Ever wondered what it’d be like to skim past the gas giants or marvel at the icy rings of Saturn up close? Well, while Elon Musk is still working on making that a reality, I’ll be your virtual guide on a one-of-a-kind solar system tour – an enlightening adventure, without the risk of being lost in space!

Our journey starts right here, on our very own life-logged planet, Earth. As we embark on this space voyage, we’ll traverse through the neighboring rocky planets, glide past the incredible asteroid belt, and sweep across the majestic giants, their icy rings and numerous satellites. Towards the end, we’ll be gracefully riding the gravitational waves, leaving the outer edges of our solar system, where you’ll get a rare glimpse of the enigmatic region populated by icy objects known as the Kuiper Belt.

But before we start our engines and head for the inky vastness of space, it’s important to remember that although space explorations have given us a fair idea about these celestial bodies, there’s still an ocean of mysteries waiting to be unfolded. The real beauty of our cosmic neighborhood lies in its sheer vastness, diversity and the endless scope of discovery that it harbors. From the scorching heat of Mercury to the frigid reaches Pluto and beyond, brace yourself for an  out-of-this-world experience !

The Exciting Experience of a Solar System Tour

Imagine the prospect of a real-life  solar system tour . It’s akin to a child’s joy on their first trip to a theme park. A hands-on space exploration that goes beyond the textbooks, casting a mesmerizing spell on minds open to the wonders of the universe.

Propelling past Earth’s atmosphere, you’d first mark a date with our closest celestial neighbor—the Moon. The Apollo astronauts traversed its dusty plains more than five decades ago. Yet for us, it would still be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Next on the itinerary is our scorched twin, Venus. Here’s a fun fact,  Venus  is the only planet in our solar system that spins opposite to Earth.

Then we arrive at the pièce de résistance: our bloodline, the Sun. During the visit, you could learn more about its billion-year lifespan and its constant solar storms. The solar system tour would not be complete without a stopover at Mars. Known as the Red Planet, it’s been the subject of numerous  space missions , most notably the Mars Rover mission seeking evidence of life.

Here’s a quick tabular overview:

From the asteroid belt to Jupiter’s turbulent storms, every celestial body sits ready to unfold its story. With the tour continuing to the outer reaches of the universe, you’d experience the icy solitude of the outer planets like Neptune and Uranus.

However, we shouldn’t forget about an often overlooked, yet significant part of our solar system. Those are the  comets  and asteroids, remnants from the formation of our system almost 4.6 billion years ago.

Being part of a solar system tour , you wouldn’t just be observing the cosmos. Instead, you’d immerse yourself in a cosmic ocean, each wave presenting a new revelation about the universe. It’s not merely an experience; it’s the chance to physically connect with the vast expanse of space that usually only feels a speck away in the night sky. This would indeed be a ticket to the greatest show in the cosmos.

Traveling through the Solar System: What to Expect

Imagine blasting off into the cosmos on a spaceship designed for a thrilling expedition! As we set off on our  solar system tour , the things we’ll perceive are extraordinarily vast and stunningly diverse. This voyage will give us a newfound respect for the majesty of the cosmic neighborhood we inhabit.

Our first stop will be  Mercury , the closest planet to the sun. It’s a small, bare, and intensely heated planet. We shouldn’t forget the sunscreen as daytime temperatures can soar up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit!

Next, we’ll swing by  Venus  – the hot, hurricane-ridden planet awaits us with an unbelievably corrosive atmosphere. It’s interesting to note that Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets, including Earth.

Continuing our journey, we’ll visit  Mars . Mars has the tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, three times the height of Mount Everest. And don’t forget about the giant canyon, Valles Marineris, which would stretch from New York to Los Angeles if it was on Earth!

Yet, our extraordinary adventure won’t be all about planets. We’ll have a chance to marvel at the  Asteroid Belt , a ring composed of millions of rocky bodies. This celestial obstacle course lies between Mars and Jupiter.

Of course, we’ll also encounter the majestic giants of our solar system. The gas giants,  Saturn  and  Jupiter , as well as the icy giants,  Uranus  and  Neptune , will present captivating sights. We’ll see Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth, and Saturn’s intricate ring system. Uranus and Neptune, on the other hand, will dazzle us with their stunning cool-blue hues.

Admittedly, going further to behold the beauty of  Pluto , once a planet, now a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, caps off this unique expedition. The journey end will leave us with an understanding of the infinite yet harmonious chaos that forms our solar system.

So buckle up, folks. The adventure through our heavenly bodies is par for the cosmic course. Our solar system, with its varied and breathtaking celestial bodies, offers a journey like no other. It’s going to be a wild ride! Just remember, despite the vastness of space, we’re never too far away from our home planet, Earth.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Our Intergalactic Journey

Wraping up, we’ve journeyed past planets and stars, across cosmic fields, and brushed alongside cosmic neighbors throughout our solar system tour.  Isn’t it just incredible that we live in such an expansive universe that holds so many unseen wonders?

Throughout our intergalactic expedition, we’ll forever remember the unique characteristics of each celestial body. Let’s just take a quick review again:

• Mercury,  with its sweltering days and frigid nights,
• Venus,  stunningly bright yet shrouded in clouds,
• Mars,  our red neighbor that pique our curiosity about extraterrestrial life,
• Jupiter’s  giant gas storms,
• Saturn’s  enchanting rings,
• Uranus  and  Neptune’s  icy allure,
• And let’s not forget about our little cosmic sibling, the dwarf planet  Pluto .

Something important stood out during our journey, invoking a sense of interconnectivity. Each exists in symbiosis, drawing and relying upon the sun’s energy. Just like how everything on Earth is connected, so are we connected to our cosmic counterparts.

So, what’s the takeaway? Should we plan to pack our bags and ship off to Mars? I’ll leave that up to you. What I will stress, though, is the importance of space exploration. It’s not just a testament to human curiosity, it’s a driver of scientific breakthroughs and a reminder of the vast unexplored universe that lies ahead of us.

It might seem frightening, or perhaps intriguing. Yet isn’t that the essence of exploration? Stepping into the unknown, learning new things, using that newfound knowledge to improve and innovate. And in doing so, perhaps we’ll find more about ourselves along the way.

To sum it up, our universe offers infinite mysteries and wonders for us to discover. As we move forward, let’s keep looking up and fueling our curiosity. Remember, no question is a bad question and our solar system tour just has begun. As we continue to explore the stars, who knows what we’ll uncover? The only thing for sure is that the stars await, ready to share their secrets with us.

Due to errors in the way the solar system model works embedded on this page, we now link directly to Solar System Scope.

Solar System Facts

10 things about our solar system.

1. Our planetary system is called “the solar system” because we use the word “solar” to describe things related to our star, after the Latin word for Sun, "solis."

2. Our solar system orbits the center of the Milky Way galaxy at about 515,000 mph (829,000 kph).

3. It takes our solar system about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.

4. The hottest planet in our solar system is Venus, even though Mercury is closer to the Sun.

5. The largest planet is Jupiter. If Jupiter was a hollow shell, 1,000 Earths could fit inside.

6. There are hundreds of moons in our solar system. Most orbit planets, but some asteroids have moons.

7. The four giant planets – and at least one asteroid – have rings. None are as spectacular as Saturn’s gorgeous rings.

8. More than 300 robotic spacecraft from many nations have explored destinations beyond Earth's orbit.

9. 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.

10. NASA’s Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are the only spacecraft leaving our solar system. Three other spacecraft – Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, and New Horizons – will eventually hit interstellar space.

Introduction

Our solar system includes the Sun, eight planets, five officially named dwarf planets , and hundreds of moons, and thousands of asteroids and comets. Our solar system is located in the Milky Way, a barred spiral galaxy with two major arms, and two minor arms. Our Sun is in a small, partial arm of the Milky Way called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur, between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms. Our solar system orbits the center of the galaxy at about 515,000 mph (828,000 kph). It takes about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.

Our planetary system is called “the solar system” because we use the word “solar” to describe things related to our star, after the Latin word for Sun, "solis."

Potential for Life

So far, we've only know about life on Earth, but NASA is searching for life on other worlds in our solar system and beyond.

Size and Distance

Our solar system extends much farther than the planets that orbit the Sun. The solar system also includes the Kuiper Belt that lies past Neptune's orbit. This is a ring of icy bodies, almost all smaller than the most popular Kuiper Belt Object – dwarf planet Pluto .

Beyond the fringes of the Kuiper Belt is the Oort Cloud . This giant spherical shell surrounds our solar system. It has never been directly observed, but its existence is predicted based on mathematical models and observations of comets that likely originate there.

The Oort Cloud is made of icy pieces of space debris - some bigger than mountains – orbiting our Sun as far as 1.6 light-years away. This shell of material is thick, extending from 5,000 astronomical units to 100,000 astronomical units. One astronomical unit (or AU) is the distance from the Sun to Earth, or about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers).

The Oort Cloud is the boundary of the Sun's gravitational influence, where orbiting objects can turn around and return closer to our Sun.

The Sun's heliosphere doesn't extend quite as far. The heliosphere is the bubble created by the solar wind – a stream of electrically charged gas blowing outward from the Sun in all directions. The boundary where the solar wind is abruptly slowed by pressure from interstellar gases is called the termination shock. This edge occurs between 80-100 astronomical units.

Two NASA spacecraft launched in 1977 have crossed the termination shock: Voyager 1 in 2004 and Voyager 2 in 2007. Voyager 1 went interstellar in 2012 and Voyager 2 joined it in 2018. But it will be many thousands of years before the two Voyagers exit the Oort Cloud.

Our solar system has hundreds of moons orbiting planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids.

Of the eight planets, Mercury and Venus are the only ones with no moons, although Venus does have a quasi-satellite that has  officially been named Zoozve . 

The giant planets Jupiter and Saturn lead our solar system’s moon counts. In some ways, the swarms of moons around these worlds resemble mini versions of our solar system.

Pluto, smaller than our own moon, has five moons in its orbit, including Charon, a moon so large it makes Pluto wobble.

Moons in Our Solar System

Latest Count

For the latest tally of moons, or planetary satellites, in our solar system, visit NASA/JPL's Solar System Dynamics website.

Our solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a dense cloud of interstellar gas and dust. The cloud collapsed, possibly due to the shockwave of a nearby exploding star, called a supernova. When this dust cloud collapsed, it formed a solar nebula – a spinning, swirling disk of material.

At the center, gravity pulled more and more material in. Eventually, the pressure in the core was so great that hydrogen atoms began to combine and form helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. With that, our Sun was born, and it eventually amassed more than 99% of the available matter.

Matter farther out in the disk was also clumping together. These clumps smashed into one another, forming larger and larger objects. Some of them grew big enough for their gravity to shape them into spheres, becoming planets, dwarf planets, and large moons. In other cases, planets did not form: the asteroid belt is made of bits and pieces of the early solar system that could never quite come together into a planet. Other smaller leftover pieces became asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and small, irregular moons.

The order and arrangement of the planets and other bodies in our solar system is due to the way the solar system formed. Nearest to the Sun, only rocky material could withstand the heat when the solar system was young. For this reason, the first four planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars – are terrestrial planets. They are all small with solid, rocky surfaces.

Meanwhile, materials we are used to seeing as ice, liquid, or gas settled in the outer regions of the young solar system. Gravity pulled these materials together, and that is where we find gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, and the ice giants Uranus and Neptune.

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The Solar System 101

Space is sometimes called “the final frontier,” a phrase popularized by the iconic Star Trek television series. But it is an apt description of humanity’s scant understanding of the planets, stars, and other celestial bodies beyond Earth. Although, we understand the parts of our own solar system better than those outside of it, we still have a lot to learn. Watch these National Geographic 101 videos to learn more about our cosmic neighborhood.

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The perseverance rover lands on mars on february 18, 2021 experience a simulation of the landing below:.

Hello, Pluto!

Answer your questions:

Link up and Listen!

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Europa Clipper Launch Bingo

During the launch broadcast, you can mark off the words that you hear!

All About Pluto

Pluto is now categorized as a dwarf planet.

The Amazing Hubble Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope is a large space telescope orbiting Earth.

What Is an Orbit?

An orbit is a regular, repeating path that one object in space takes around another one.

What Is Antarctica?

Antarctica is a continent. Antarctica covers Earth's South Pole.

What Is a Satellite?

A satellite is anything that orbits a planet or a star.

Play Bingo While Watching the Psyche Spacecraft Launch!

Make a Colorful Crayon Europa with Textures!

Create your own colorful crayon Europa with textures!

What Is a Comet?

Learn all about comets!

What Is the James Webb Space Telescope?

The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest, most powerful space telescope ever built.

All About the Sun

The light of daytime comes from our closest star: the Sun. Learn more about it!

Color Your Universe: Find the Hidden Objects

Can you find all the NASA and space-themed hidden objects?

Why Do We Care About Water on Mars?

Where there are signs of water, there might also be signs of life!

What Are Constellations?

Learn more about what these groups of stars can (and can’t) tell us about our place in the universe.

How Scary Is Space?

Check out these nine unearthly nightmares that could be happening right now in our own galaxy. Eek!

What Are the Moon’s Phases?

Learn about the Moon's phases!

Is Time Travel Possible?

Airplanes and satellites can experience changes in time! Read on to find out more.

What Is an Impact Crater?

Learn about impact craters!

How Long is a Year on Other Planets?

You probably know that a year is 365 days here on Earth. But did you know that on Mercury you’d have a birthday every 88 days? Read this article to find out how long it takes all the planets in our solar system to make a trip around the Sun.

What Is a Leap Year?

Approximately every four years we add a day to the calendar. Learn more about why it’s important!

Explore Mars: A Mars Rover Game

Drive around the Red Planet and gather information in this fun coding game!

What Powers a Spacecraft?

It all depends on what the spacecraft will do! Read on to learn more.

All About the Moon

The biggest planet in our solar system

What Is the Weather Like on Other Planets?

Each of the planets in our solar system experiences its own unique weather.

Is There Ice on Other Planets?

Yes, there is ice beyond Earth! In fact, ice can be found on several planets and moons in our solar system.

Supermoon, Blood Moon, Blue Moon and Harvest Moon

Learn about the different names we have for a full moon!

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A light-year is the distance light travels in one Earth year. Learn about how we use light-years to measure the distance of objects in space.

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Learn more about tremors on Earth—and other planets too!

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We can use a planet’s gravitational pull like a scale!

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Learn about what makes our Sun a very busy place!

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Astronomers have discovered 2,500 so far, but there are likely to be many more!

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Learn more about these exploding stars!

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Learn more about what happens when the moon passes between Earth and the sun!

How Is the Sun Completely Blocked in an Eclipse?

It all has to do with the distance between Earth and the sun and Earth and the moon.

What Is a Gravitational Wave?

How do gravitational waves give us a new way to learn about the universe?

What Is an Exoplanet?

What is an exoplanet? And how do we know they're out there?

Searching for Other Planets Like Ours

Exoplanets are far away and hard to see. How do we look for them?

Asteroid or Meteor: What's the Difference?

Learn more about asteroids, meteors, meteoroids, meteorites, and comets!

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And what can we learn from these space rocks in our solar system?

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This future mission will try to find out if life ever existed on the Red Planet!

The Mars Rovers: Curiosity

Mars had water long ago. But did it also have other conditions needed for life?

The Mars Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity

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The Mars Rovers: Sojourner

Learn more about the first rover to land on Mars!

The Mars Rovers

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Explore the different types of galaxies!

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The Sun is actually a pretty average star!

Printable Space Valentines

Share these with your friends and family!

What Is the Kuiper Belt?

The icy bits past Neptune’s orbit

Where Does the Solar System End?

The Oort Cloud!

The outermost layer

Thermosphere

The heat that won’t keep you warm

The active, changing layer

The middle layer

Stratosphere

The layer made of layers

Troposphere

The layer we call home

Earth's Atmosphere

A jacket for the planet

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And how round are they?

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What causes this beautiful light show?

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and dark energy, too!

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Sunburns are no fun.

Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses

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How many are there?

All About Neptune

The coldest planet in our solar system

All About Uranus

The planet that spins on its side

All About Saturn

The planet with beautiful rings

All About Jupiter

All About Mars

The red planet

All About Earth

The planet with living things

All About Venus

The hottest planet in our solar system

All About the Planets

Learn more about the planets in our solar system

All About Mercury

The smallest planet in our solar system

Find definitions of space and Earth science terms

Make a Comet on a Stick!

A comet close to home

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Learn to make a graph with the answer!

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Why do we call it that?

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It’s farther away than you might realize.

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And how long will it shine?

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We have one, but some planets have dozens.

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Learn more about this icy moon of Jupiter!

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What are they and what will become of them?

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And what causes them to form?

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Explore the many volcanoes in our solar system using the Space Volcano Explorer.

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The key is curiosity!

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The Sun’s activity follows an 11-year cycle. Learn more about it!

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The answer may surprise you.

Thirsty? Have a comet!

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Make No-Bake Moon Cookies!

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What causes them?

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Astronauts, rockets, and spacecraft to view or print.

Gallery of NASA Sun Images

Get up close and personal with our own star.

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Galaxies, nebulae, and supernova remnants to view or print.

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Glorious planets and moons to view or print.

Gallery of NASA Earth Images

View large images or print them.

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What kind of math would creatures with 16 fingers invent?

Voyager 1 and 2: The Interstellar Mission

These spacecraft traveled to the outer planets!

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High Tide on IO!

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Play Solar System Switch-a-Roo!

Put clues together to find the planets and moons.

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Learn the answer and impress your friends!

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And how does it help us find new planets?

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Building a 3-D Map of Earth from Space!

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And what are they made of?

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How do these monster storms happen?

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Paper models of your favorite solar system explorers. This link takes you away from NASA Space Place.

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Explore the Solar System With NASA’s New-and-Improved 3D ‘Eyes’

NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System includes renderings of 126 NASA spacecraft, including Juno, seen here flying by Jupiter.

The agency’s newly upgraded “Eyes on the Solar System” visualization tool includes Artemis I’s trajectory along with a host of other new features.

NASA has revamped its “ Eyes on the Solar System ” 3D visualization tool, making interplanetary travel easier and more interactive than ever. More than two years in the making, the update delivers better controls, improved navigation, and a host of new opportunities to learn about our incredible corner of the cosmos – no spacesuit required. All you need is a device with an internet connection.

Anyone with an internet-enabled device browser can explore the past, present, and future of the solar system in 3D with NASA’s interactive Eyes on the Solar System . Click anywhere on the image to get a closer look at a 3D rendering of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft flying by Saturn’s moon Enceladus in 2015.

Learn the basics about dwarf planets or the finer points of gas giants, and ride alongside no fewer than 126 space missions past and present – including Perseverance during its harrowing entry, descent, and landing on the Red Planet. In fact, you can follow the paths of spacecraft and celestial bodies as far back as 1949 and as far into the future as 2049.

While you’re at it, you can rotate objects, compare them side by side, and even modulate the perspective as well as the lighting. The visuals are striking. This latest version of “Eyes” also lets you scroll through rich interactive journeys, including Voyager’s Grand Tour of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

• Watch a video tutorial to get started with 'Eyes'

“The beauty of the new browser-based ‘Eyes on the Solar System’ is that it really invites exploration. You just need an internet connection, a device that has a web browser, and some curiosity,” said Jason Craig, the producer of the “Eyes” software at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Matthew Segal

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

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