Our solar system contains one star, eight planets, dozens of moons, and countless smaller bodies like asteroids and comets, all held together by the Sun's gravity.
The Sun makes up about 99.8% of the total mass of the solar system. It is a massive ball of hydrogen and helium undergoing nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing the light and heat that sustains life on Earth. Its surface temperature reaches roughly 5,500 degrees Celsius, while its core burns at over 15 million degrees Celsius.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are known as the terrestrial planets because they have solid, rocky surfaces. Mercury is the closest to the Sun and experiences extreme temperature swings. Venus, despite being farther from the Sun, is the hottest planet due to a thick atmosphere that traps heat through a runaway greenhouse effect.
Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, with Jupiter being the largest planet in the solar system. Saturn is famous for its extensive ring system made of ice and rock particles. Uranus and Neptune are ice giants, containing heavier elements like water, ammonia, and methane.
The solar system hosts hundreds of moons, with Jupiter and Saturn having dozens each. Between Mars and Jupiter lies the asteroid belt, a region filled with rocky remnants from the solar system's formation. Comets develop glowing tails when they pass close to the Sun.