The Solar System

The Origins of the Solar System and Earth

An excellent place to explore the solar system is The Nine Planets

Warning! Kids, don't try this at home! Some of the pix below are big files, not very friendly to a dial-up connection.

Table of Planet Data

Some Solar System Basics

Planet Scaling Law

Nebulae: Star Factories

Sun

Terrestrial (rocky) planets

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Moon

Mars

Asteroids

Distance from the Sun in AU

Planet Titius's Calculation Actual
Mercury 0.4 0.39
Venus 0.7 0.72
Earth 1.0 1.0
Mars 1.6 1.52
Asteroids 2.8  
Jupiter 5.2 5.2
Saturn 10.0 9.54
     

Jovian (giant, gas) planets

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto