Outline of the Solar System
![A true-color image of the Solar System with sizes, but not distances, to scale. The order of the planets are from right to left.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Solar_System_true_color.jpg/440px-Solar_System_true_color.jpg)
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Solar System:
Solar System – gravitationally bound system comprising the Sun and the objects that orbit it, either directly or indirectly. Of those objects that orbit the Sun directly, the largest eight are the planets (including Earth), with the remainder being significantly smaller objects, such as dwarf planets and small Solar System bodies. Of the objects that orbit the Sun indirectly, the moons, two are larger than the smallest planet, Mercury.
Regions and celestial objects of the Solar System
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Solar_System_size_to_scale.svg/400px-Solar_System_size_to_scale.svg.png)
- Sun ☉
- Interplanetary medium
- Inner Solar System
- Outer Solar System
- Ubiquitous
- Trans-Neptunian region
- Farthest regions
Location of the Solar System
[edit]From largest to smallest structure:
- Universe
- Observable universe
- Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex
- Laniakea Supercluster
- Virgo Supercluster
- Local Sheet
- Local Group
- Milky Way subgroup
- Milky Way
- Orion–Cygnus Arm
- Gould Belt
- Local Bubble
- Local Interstellar Cloud – immediate galactic neighborhood of the Solar System.
- Alpha Centauri – star system nearest to the Solar System, at about 4.4 light years away
- Solar System – star and planetary system where the Earth is located.
- Earth – the only planet known to have life.
Structure and composition of the Solar System
[edit]- Interplanetary space
- Physical characteristics of the Sun
- Physical characteristics of Mercury
- Physical characteristics of Venus
- Physical characteristics of the Earth
- Physical characteristics of Mars
- Physical characteristics of Jupiter
- Physical characteristics of Saturn
- Physical characteristics of Uranus
- Physical characteristics of Neptune
History of the Solar System
[edit]Discovery and exploration of the Solar System
[edit]Discovery and exploration of the Solar System –
- Timeline of Solar System astronomy
- Timeline of discovery of Solar System planets and their moons
- Timeline of Solar System exploration
- Timeline of first images of Earth from space
- Development of hypotheses
- Space exploration – Exploration by celestial body
- Solar System models
Formation and evolution of the Solar System
[edit]Formation and evolution of the Solar System –
- Nebular hypothesis
- Terrestrial planets
- Iron planets
- Mercury
- Silicate planets
- Iron planets
- Giant planets
- Gas giants
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Ice giants
- Uranus
- Neptune
- Gas giants
Lists of Solar System objects and features
[edit]The number of currently known, or observed, objects of the Solar System are in the hundreds of thousands. Many of them are listed in the following articles:
By type
[edit]- List of Solar System objects
- List of gravitationally rounded objects of the Solar System
- List of natural satellites
- List of possible dwarf planets
- List of minor planets (numbered) and List of unnumbered minor planets
- List of trans-Neptunian objects (numbered) and List of unnumbered trans-Neptunian objects
- Lists of comets
By physical parameters and features
[edit]- List of exceptional asteroids
- Lists of geological features of the Solar System
- List of Solar System extremes
- By size
- By distance
- Features
Lists of Solar System exploring missions and spacecraft
[edit]Missions
[edit]- List of missions to the Moon
- List of missions to Venus
- List of missions to Mars
- List of missions to the outer planets
- List of minor planets and comets visited by spacecraft
Spacecraft
[edit]- List of Solar System probes
- List of lunar probes
- List of extraterrestrial orbiters
- List of landings on extraterrestrial bodies
- List of rovers on extraterrestrial bodies
See also
[edit]- Outline of astronomy
- Outline of space exploration
- Astronomical symbols
- Planetary mnemonic
- HIP 11915 (a solar analog whose planetary system contains a Jupiter analog)