The solar system
This page is about the sun and the planets 'near' Earth. You can also find out about comets and our journey to one, the force of gravity, and our mission to Mars.
Solar means 'of the sun or from the sun'. The sun is at the centre of the solar system, and it is the biggest thing in the solar system. It is so big that if it were empty you would need a million planet Earths to fill it. The sun spins and everthing else in the solar system spins around the sun.
The sun is a star. All stars in the sky are suns in different solar systems.
The sun is a star. All stars in the sky are suns in different solar systems.
A History of our Thinking about the Solar System
What's in the solar system - 4:07 mins to 6:04 mins
Why does the sun shine?
The Earth's orbit of the Sun