Our solar system refers to the collection of celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, a star at the center of our planetary system. It includes several major components, including the Sun, eight planets, their moons, planetary rings, and numerous smaller celestial objects such as asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
The Sun, the largest and most dominant body in the solar system, accounts for the majority of its mass. It emits light, heat, and solar radiation, supplying energy to all other celestial bodies within its gravitational influence.
The eight planets, in order from the Sun outwards, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets differ in size, composition, and atmospheric conditions. They all revolve around the Sun in elliptical orbits, and each has a unique set of moons. Earth, the third planet from the Sun and the one we inhabit, supports life as we know it.
Planetary rings are prominent features of some of the planets, composed of countless particles, primarily ice and dust, orbiting around their equatorial regions. Saturn is the most famous example, known for its impressive ring system.
Other objects within our solar system include asteroids, rocky fragments that orbit the Sun, often found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets are icy bodies that originate from the outer regions of the solar system, displaying a glowing coma and a tail when they approach the Sun. Meteoroids are smaller, solid objects, often debris left behind by comets or asteroids, that can enter the Earth's atmosphere and become meteors when they burn up due to friction with the air.
