Planet
Venus comes closer to the Earth than any other planet and is almost the same size as the Earth. It is always covered in clouds making it impossible to see the surface.
Planet
Earth is unique among the worlds of the solar system. It has a thick atmosphere containing substantial amounts of Oxygen and has conditions which allow liquid water to exist on the surface.
Satellite
The only natural satellite of Earth. It is about a quarter of the size of the Earth and always has the same face towards the Earth.
Planet
Mars is cold and dry but there are hints that liquid water may have existed on the surface in the past.
Satellite
Satellite
Dwarf Planet
This is the first of the dwarf planets, a category created by the International Astronomical Union in August 2006.
Planet
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system containing more mass than all the other planets combined. It is a huge ball of gas with no solid surface.
Satellites
Jupiter has 65 known moons, the four largest ones can be seen with binoculars.
Planet
The second largest planet in the solar system with a system of rings. Like Jupiter, Saturn is a gas giant.
Satellites
Saturn has 35 known moons. The largest, Titan is larger than Mercury and has an atmosphere.
Planet
Uranus is a gas giant with 27 known moons and a system of rings. The magnetic field is off centre and tilted at 60º to the axis of rotation.
Satellites
Uranus has 27 known moons, Titania being the largest.
Planet
Under the new classification Neptune becomes the outermost planet. It has 13 known moons and a system of rings.
Satellites
13 Known moons, the largest of which is Triton.
Dwarf Planet
Pluto has a highly eliptical orbit which takes it inside the orbit of Neptune for 20 years of its 249 year orbit.
3 known moons, Charon being the largest.
Dwarf Planet
At present the outermost dwarf planet previously designated 2003 UB313. Slightly larger than Pluto.
DYSNOMIA
Satellite
Previously nicknamed "Gabrielle".
OTHER SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS
©Matthew Wallace 2006