Solar System

The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system that consists of the Sun and all the celestial bodies that are in orbit around it. This includes eight major planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—along with their moons, dwarf planets like Pluto, small solar system bodies such as asteroids and comets, as well as interplanetary dust and gas. The Sun, a star at the center of the Solar System, contains more than 99% of the system's total mass and provides the necessary light and heat to sustain life on Earth. 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 the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. The planets vary significantly in composition, atmosphere, and potential for supporting life, reflecting the diverse conditions found within this celestial system.