There are more planets than stars in our galaxy. The current count orbiting our star: eight.

The inner, rocky planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The outer planets are gas giants Jupiter and Saturn and ice giants Uranus and Neptune.

Planet Facts Interesting Planet Facts Mercury – The smallest and fastest planet, it zips around the Sun in only 88 Earth days. Venus – Venus’ thick atmosphere makes it the hottest planet in our solar system. Earth – The only planet in our solar system with liquid water on the surface. Mars – Mars was a wet and warm planet billions of years ago. Jupiter – The largest planet, its dark red spot is a storm larger than Earth. Saturn – Saturn has the brightest, most massive and most complex ring system of any planet. Uranus – Uranus is tipped on its axis by almost 90-degrees. Neptune – Neptune was the first planet discovered through mathematical calculations, rather than observation.

Beyond Neptune, a newer class of smaller worlds called dwarf planets reign, including longtime favorite Pluto.

Planet Lineup

Types of Planets Small and Dwarf Planets There are currently five planets classified as dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Makemake, Haumea and Eris. Except for Ceres, which lies in the main asteroid belt, these small planets are located in the Kuiper Belt. They’re considered dwarfs because they are massive, round, and orbit the Sun, but haven't cleared their orbital path.

Real-Time, Interactive Solar System

Real-Time, Real Data: Your Galactic Neighborhood

This simulated view of our solar system runs on real data. The position of the planets, moons and spacecraft are shown where they are right now. This digital orrery (a model of the solar system) runs on a light, mobile-mobile friendly version of NASA's Eyes on the Solar System software.

This snapshot focuses on active NASA missions and select ESA missions. Showcasing the entire operating international fleet is too much of a data wallop at the moment (but we are working on it!). Active international missions such as Japan's Akatsuki Venus Orbiter and ESA and Japan's Mercury-bound BepiColombo are not yet available.

Use the HD button to upload higher resolution imagery of the planets. It may not work properly on older mobile devices. Have fun, and keep exploring.