What is the solar system?

The solar system is the gravitational system formed by the Sun and all objects that orbit it.

At the center is the Sun, which contains more than 99% of the total mass of the system. Everything else moves around it due to its strong gravitational pull.

The solar system includes:

• 8 planets (Mercury to Neptune)
• Dwarf planets like Pluto
• Moons (natural satellites) orbiting planets
• Asteroids, mainly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
• Comets and other small icy bodies

These objects follow specific paths called orbits, and most of them lie in a flat, disk-like region.

Formation context:
The solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a collapsing cloud of gas and dust, the same process that led to the formation of Earth.

Functional understanding: The solar system is a dynamic system where gravitational forces maintain order, influence motion, and shape planetary behavior.