Solar system – Almost everything you need to know

Our solar system is a complex network of celestial bodies gravitationally bound to the Sun, which resides at its heart—a luminous sphere providing light, heat, and energy. It consists of eight recognized planets categorized into rocky terrestrial planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars—and gas giants—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Accompanying these are moons, dwarf planets like Pluto, asteroids, comets, the Kuiper Belt, and the hypothetical Oort Cloud. This system, immense in size yet small in cosmic standards, is vital for understanding the universal framework and Earth’s place within it, highlighting the significance of giants such as Jupiter and Saturn for overall stability and protection.