The solar system is a complex and intricate celestial arrangement that encompasses the Sun, along with its retinue of celestial bodies. It consists of the Sun, which is a G-type main-sequence star, and the nine recognized planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (which was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006). Additionally, the solar system includes numerous natural satellites, such as Earth’s Moon, as well as a vast array of asteroids, comets, dust particles, and gases that orbit the Sun.
The Sun, as the central and dominant celestial body, exerts its gravitational pull on all the other objects within its gravitational field, maintaining their orbits and governing their movements. Each planet in the solar system has its own unique characteristics, such as size, composition, atmosphere, and geological features, which have been shaped by various processes over billions of years.
The solar system is situated within the Milky Way galaxy, specifically in the Orion Arm, one of its spiral arms. The Milky Way itself is a vast and intricate structure, composed of billions of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter. Within this galactic context, the solar system occupies a relatively small and localized region, yet it remains an awe-inspiring and captivating microcosm of the larger cosmos.