Sun
Yellow dwarf star
- Position
- Centre of the solar system
- Rotation
- 25 days at the equator; 36 at the poles
- Galactic orbit
- About 230 million Earth years around the Milky Way
Interactive 3D Solar System
The solar system, alive in 3D.
Drag, zoom, and explore a living model of our planetary neighbourhood. Every world rotates, follows an accelerated orbit around the Sun, and opens into its story when selected.
Enter the 3D system8 planets + Sun + Moon360° cameraLive motion
Building the solar system
Real 3D · accelerated · not to scale
Drag to orbit the camera · scroll or pinch to zoom · select the Sun, Moon, or a planet for its story
Educational simulation: orbital motion is accelerated and distances and body sizes are compressed for exploration. Select the Sun, Moon, or any planet to open its story.
Choose a world including the Sun and Moon
Navigate the solar system
Swipe on mobile, scroll on desktop, or use the controls. Select the Sun, Moon, or any planet to open its full story and essential facts.
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High-resolution planet surface maps: Solar System Scope, CC BY 4.0, based on NASA imagery and elevation data and served through Wikimedia Commons. Moon surface and phase imagery: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Space imagery: NASA/ESA Hubble. Meteor image: Preston Dyches/NASA. Comet image: E. Kolmhofer and H. Raab, CC BY-SA 3.0, via NASA.
Solar system overview
World facts at a glance
The Sun anchors the system, the Moon orbits Earth, and eight planets travel around our star. The inner four planets are rocky, while the outer four are giants.
Mercury
Terrestrial planet
- Distance from Sun
- 57.9 million km
- Length of day
- 176 Earth days
- Length of year
- 88 Earth days
Venus
Terrestrial planet
- Distance from Sun
- 108.2 million km
- Length of day
- 243 Earth days
- Length of year
- 225 Earth days
Earth
Terrestrial planet
- Distance from Sun
- 149.6 million km
- Length of day
- 23.9 hours
- Length of year
- 365.25 days
Moon
Natural satellite
- Distance from Earth
- 384,400 km from Earth
- Length of day
- 27.3 Earth days
- Orbit around Earth
- 27.3 Earth days around Earth
Mars
Terrestrial planet
- Distance from Sun
- 227.9 million km
- Length of day
- 24.6 hours
- Length of year
- 687 Earth days
Jupiter
Gas giant
- Distance from Sun
- 778.5 million km
- Length of day
- 9.9 hours
- Length of year
- 11.86 Earth years
Saturn
Gas giant
- Distance from Sun
- 1.4 billion km
- Length of day
- 10.7 hours
- Length of year
- 29.4 Earth years
Uranus
Ice giant
- Distance from Sun
- 2.9 billion km
- Length of day
- About 17 hours
- Length of year
- 84 Earth years
Neptune
Ice giant
- Distance from Sun
- 4.5 billion km
- Length of day
- About 16 hours
- Length of year
- 165 Earth years
Planet classifications and core facts are based on NASA Science. Planet distances are rounded average distances from the Sun; the Moon distance is its rounded average distance from Earth.
Quick answers
Questions about the planets
Clear answers to the questions people ask most often about our solar system.
How many planets are in our solar system?
There are eight officially recognised planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Does the Moon orbit Earth?
Yes. The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It completes one orbit around Earth in about 27.3 days and rotates in the same amount of time, which is why the same side usually faces us.
Why is Pluto not included as a planet?
The International Astronomical Union classified Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006. It is an important world, but it is not one of the solar system's eight planets.
Which is the hottest planet?
Venus is the hottest planet, even though Mercury is closer to the Sun. Venus has a dense atmosphere that traps heat through a runaway greenhouse effect.
Which is the largest planet?
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It is about eleven times wider than Earth.
What is the difference between rocky and giant planets?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are rocky terrestrial planets with solid surfaces. Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants. Uranus and Neptune are ice giants.
Is this an example of a custom website Market Me Global can develop?
Yes. This interactive 3D planet explorer is a sample custom website development project by Market Me Global. We can create a tailored website with 3D visuals, animations, mobile-friendly UX, SEO, and business-specific functionality. Contact Market Me Global to discuss your project and request a custom offer.