You live in the solar system, which consists of that big bright thing in the center called the Sun, and thousands if not millions of various other objects ranging from giant Jupiter all the way down to microscopic bits of dust. Our view of the solar system changed dramatically over four hundred years ago when we realized that all of these objects circle the Sun in elliptical orbits. Here are the main types of objects: Planets How many are there? Of course there is still some debate as to the exact definition of a planet. Dwarf Planets A new catagory, added in 2006 by the IAU. Asteroids (Minor Planets) At last count, we have discovered over one million of these objects Comets Made largely of ice, these are visitors from the outer solar system, close to the Earth for perhaps weeks Kuiper Objects Pluto was the first one discovered, (now Pluto is a dwarf planet). There are hundreds more way out there. Moons Although they do not orbit the Sun, they are still members of the solar system. Moons orbit planets!
Carpe Caelum Planetary Astronomy
Carpe Caelum Planetary Astronomy