Solar System Exploration
Join us as we explore our planetary neighborhood: The Sun, planets, moons, comets, and asteroids.
Solar System Overview
The solar system has one star, eight planets, five officially named dwarf planets, hundreds of moons, thousands of comets, and more than a million asteroids.
Our solar system is located in the Milky Way, a barred spiral galaxy with two major arms, and two minor arms. Our Sun is in a small, partial arm of the Milky Way called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur, between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms. 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.
Observe the Moon with NASA
International Observe the Moon Night is September 14. It's a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide. Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon.
Learn more and participate
Exploring an Ocean Moon
Our solar system has at least 293 moons orbiting planets, including Jupiter's moon, Europa, the target of NASA's Europa Clipper mission. Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch on Oct. 10, 2024, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Learn More About Europa Clipper
Featured Missions
Explore our solar system with NASA. Here are some of our upcoming missions.
Europa Clipper
NASA's Europa Clipper is launching Oct. 10, 2024, on the first mission to conduct a detailed science investigation of Jupiter's moon Europa.
NEO Surveyor
Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor is the first space telescope specifically designed to hunt asteroids and comets that may be potential hazards to Earth.
VERITAS
VERITAS, and another mission called DAVINCI, will be the first NASA spacecraft to explore Venus since the 1990s.
10 THINGS about our solar system
1. Many Worlds
Our solar system has eight planets, and five dwarf planets.
2. Small Worlds, Too
About 1.4 million asteroids, and about 4,000 comets are in our solar system.
3. Lots of Moons
Our solar system has more than 200 planetary moons.
4. Meet Me in the Milky Way
Our solar system is in one of the Milky Way galaxy’s spiral arms called the Orion Spur.
5. A Long Way Around
Our solar system takes about 230 million years to orbit the galactic center.
6. Spiraling Through Space
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy.
7. Room to Breathe
Our solar system has many worlds with many types of atmospheres.
8. Ring Worlds
The four giant planets – and at least one asteroid – have rings.
9. Getting Out There
More than 300 robotic spacecraft have left Earth's orbit, and 24 U.S. astronauts have traveled to the Moon.
10. Life as We Know It
So far, Earth is the only place we've found life in our solar system.
