Understanding the Structure of the Solar System

The Solar System is a collection of celestial bodies, including the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. The Sun, a star at the center, provides the necessary heat and light that sustain life on Earth. There are eight major planets, which are categorized into two groups: terrestrial planets and gas giants. The terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, characterized by rocky surfaces and relatively high densities. The gas giants, which include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are much larger and composed mostly of gases.

In addition to the eight major planets, there are dwarf planets such as Pluto, which was reclassified from a full planet in 2006. The Solar System also contains numerous moons orbiting the planets; for instance, Earth has one moon, while Jupiter has over 79 recognized moons. Moreover, the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud are regions filled with icy bodies and other debris, contributing further to the diversity of the Solar System's composition.