The Solar System

☀️ The Sun's Family

All the planets surrounding the Sun are members of the Sun's family, known as the Solar System. The sun lies directly in the middle of this family and orbiting (circling) around it are the 8 planets and their moons (satelittes), as well as the asteroids.

Orbits of the Planets

The near planets

MercuryVenusEarthMars

The far planets

JupiterSaturnUranusNeptune

Birth in a cloud

Many scientists believe that the solar system formed as a result of a cloud of gas and dust that formed about 4.6 billion years ago. The Sun formed in the central part of the cloud, whilst the planets grew from balls of gas around it. And thus the Solar System as we know it today was born.

Gas Condeneses

Sun born

Planets form