Our Solar System

The solar system is a collection of objects in motion. Each one spins on its axis and orbits the Sun. The planets and their moons, along with some comets and most asteroids, travel around the Sun in predictable, elliptical orbits. These pathways are shaped primarily by the gravitational pull of the Sun.

Distance from the Sun dictates how long it takes each planet to make a complete orbit. Mercury speeds around every three months, while distant Pluto takes 248 Earth years to make one trip.