Planetary system

Solar System

The Solar System includes the Sun, eight planets, five officially named dwarf planets, hundreds of moons, and thousands of asteroids and comets.

Verified 2026-10-08

Type: Image · scientific illustration Provider: NASA Author: NASA/JPL Credit: Credit: NASA/JPL Licence: NASA Image Use Policy Colour treatment: illustrated

Overview

The Solar System is a planetary system in the Milky Way, a barred spiral galaxy. Its Sun lies in the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur, a small partial arm between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms. The system encompasses the Sun and the objects that orbit it, including planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.

Its eight planets and five officially named dwarf planets are part of a broader and diverse population of worlds. The system has hundreds of moons; many orbit planets, and some are also known to orbit asteroids. The four giant planets have rings, and at least one asteroid has rings as well. The Solar System completes an orbit around the galactic center in about 230 million years.

Essential data

Key fact: The Solar System has eight planets and five officially named dwarf planets.
Key fact: It contains about 1.4 million asteroids and about 4,000 comets.
Key fact: It lies in the Milky Way’s Orion Arm, or Orion Spur.
Key fact: It takes about 230 million years to orbit the galactic center.