A tour of the solar system

how are the planets arranged in the solar system?

The planets orbit the Sun in a roughly flat plane, with the smaller rocky worlds closer in and the large gas and ice giants farther out. Their distances grow quickly as you move outward, so the outer planets are far more spread apart than the inner ones. This course walks through that layout so you can picture where each world sits.

what is at the centre of the solar system?

The Sun sits at the centre, and its gravity holds every planet, moon, and smaller body in orbit around it. It contains almost all of the mass in the whole system, which is why everything else circles it rather than the other way around.

what is the difference between the inner and outer planets?

The inner planets are smaller, rocky worlds that orbit close to the Sun, while the outer planets are much larger and made mostly of gas and ice. There is also a big jump in distance between the two groups, which is part of what makes them feel like separate neighbourhoods of the sky.

how far apart are the planets from each other?

The gaps between planets are not even — they widen dramatically the farther you travel from the Sun. Getting a feel for that scale is the first step to understanding why the outer solar system feels so remote, and it's one of the things this tour helps you picture.

what objects are in the solar system besides planets?

Beyond the planets, the Sun's family includes moons circling many of the planets, along with smaller rocky and icy bodies scattered through the system. Learning where these pieces fit alongside the planets rounds out the picture of how everything is arranged.