Space

Lying within the vast expanse of the solar system, there are nine known planets that orbit the colossal star we all know as the sun. A planet is defined as a large non-luminous celestial mass that is generally larger than smaller celestial bodies such as comets or asteroids.
While it is still not known precisely how the planets of our solar system were formed, the currently accepted nine planets that orbit around and are illuminated by the sun include Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The primary distinction between a star and a planet is that a star undergoes nuclear reactions on its surface, where a planet does not.
Every known planet in the solar system, with the exception of Earth and Uranus, is named after a historical Roman god. Uranus is named for a Greek god. Earth was not originally considered a planet by ancient people, but as the supposed center of the entire universe. Each of the planets in the solar system also has at least one additional celestial body, known as a moon that orbits around it while it orbits the sun. Mercury and Venus are the only planets with no known moons. Earth has the next fewest with just one moon, while Jupiter has an incredible 63 discovered moons.
Uncover additional information about the planets of the solar system, including planet articles, planet pictures, interactive planet features and more below