Space & Astronomy Editor
Overview
Our Solar System formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant molecular cloud.
The Sun
The Sun is a G-type main-sequence star that contains 99.86% of the Solar System's mass. It provides the light and heat that makes life possible on Earth.
The Planets
Inner Planets (Rocky):
- Mercury - Smallest, closest to Sun
- Venus - Hottest, thick atmosphere
- Earth - Only known planet with life
- Mars - The Red Planet
Outer Planets (Gas Giants):
- Jupiter - Largest planet
- Saturn - Famous for its rings
- Uranus - Tilted on its side
- Neptune - Furthest from Sun
Other Objects
The Solar System also contains the asteroid belt, Kuiper belt, dwarf planets (like Pluto), comets, and the Oort Cloud.
