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Take a virtual tour of our cosmic neighborhood! This interactive website allows students to explore the planets, moons, and other celestial bodies in our solar system. Great for visual learners and sparking curiosity about space exploration.

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The solar system has one star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, at least 290 moons, more than 1.3 million asteroids, and about 3,900 comets. It is located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur. 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.

We call it the solar system because it is made up of our star, the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity - the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; dwarf planets Pluto, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea, and Eris - along with hundreds of moons; and millions of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.

Our Daily Skywatching Guide

A detailed guide to the night sky written by a NASA expert featuring full Moon lore, asteroid flybys, stars, galaxies, constellations, and more.
Learn More

10 THINGS about our solar system

Saying Farewell: Which Spacecraft are Leaving Our Solar System?

Only two spacecraft have reached interstellar space, the space between stars. Three other spacecraft have achieved enough velocity to eventually travel beyond the boundaries of our solar system.

Voyager 1 went interstellar in 2012 and Voyager 2 joined it in 2018. Both spacecraft, launched in 1977, are still in communication with Earth.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is currently exploring an icy region beyond Neptune called the Kuiper Belt. It eventually will leave our solar system.

Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 also will ultimately travel silently among the stars toward the galactic core. The spacecraft used up their power supplies decades ago.

Discover More Topics From NASA

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The solar system has one star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, at least 290 moons, more than 1.3 million asteroids, and about 3,900 comets.

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This fascinating video explains the structure and importance of the Sun, our life-giving star. Learn about solar flares, sunspots, and how the Sun's energy impacts life on Earth.

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Discover the latest findings from NASA's Mars missions. This article discusses the search for water, potential for life, and future plans for human exploration on our neighboring planet.

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Explore some of the most groundbreaking observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope. This gallery showcases stunning images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and other cosmic phenomena that have revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

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Learn about the exciting field of exoplanet research. This article explains how scientists detect planets orbiting other stars and discusses the potential for finding habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

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Dive into the mysterious world of black holes. This video explains the concept of black holes, how they form, and their impact on space and time. Perfect for introducing students to complex astrophysical concepts.

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NASA Simulation’s Plunge Into a Black Hole: Explained

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Discover life aboard the International Space Station. This resource provides information about the station's purpose, daily life of astronauts, and ongoing scientific experiments in microgravity.

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Formerly the site for the High Definition Earth-Viewing System (HDEV) : Operational: April 30, 2014 – End of Life: August 22, 2019. See more information below.

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Learn about NASA's newest space observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope. This article discusses its capabilities, mission objectives, and how it will help us unravel the mysteries of the early universe.

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Explore the cutting-edge technologies that could revolutionize space exploration. This video covers topics such as ion propulsion, space elevators, and plans for future missions to deep space.