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Our solar system is a vast and complex neighborhood located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy. At its heart lies the Sun, a massive star whose intense gravity holds everything from the largest planets to the smallest bits of debris in orbit. The system is divided into two distinct regions: the inner solar system, home to the four rocky “terrestrial” planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars), and the outer solar system, dominated by the four massive “gas giants” and “ice giants” (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). Between these regions lies the asteroid belt, a collection of rocky remnants from the early formation of our cosmic home.

Beyond the distant orbit of Neptune, the solar system extends into the Kuiper Belt and the mysterious Oort Cloud, regions filled with icy bodies and the origins of many comets. While the eight major planets get the most attention, the system also teems with dozens of dwarf planets like Pluto, hundreds of moons, and millions of asteroids. Each of these celestial bodies offers a unique window into the history of our universe, revealing a dynamic environment shaped by billions of years of collisions, volcanic activity, and gravitational shifting.