Mercury
Terrestrial Planet
Year Length
88 Earth Days
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun. Despite its proximity to our star, it's not the hottest planet. Its surface is covered with craters, similar to Earth's Moon, and experiences extreme temperature variations, reaching 430°C during the day and -180°C at night.
Venus
Terrestrial Planet
Distance from Sun
108M km
Day Length
243 Earth Days
Year Length
225 Earth Days
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and Earth's closest planetary neighbor. It's often called Earth's "twin" due to their similar size, but that's where the similarities end. Venus has a thick, toxic atmosphere filled with carbon dioxide and is shrouded in thick, yellowish clouds of sulfuric acid, making it the hottest planet in our solar system.
Earth
Terrestrial Planet
Distance from Sun
150M km
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. About 71% of Earth's surface is covered with water, which is essential for life as we know it. Our planet has a protective atmosphere that shields us from harmful solar radiation and maintains temperatures that allow liquid water to exist.
Mars
Terrestrial Planet
Distance from Sun
228M km
Year Length
687 Earth Days
Mars, the Red Planet, is the fourth planet from the Sun. It's named after the Roman god of war due to its reddish appearance, caused by iron oxide on its surface. Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, and evidence suggests it once had liquid water and possibly supported microbial life.
Jupiter
Gas Giant
Distance from Sun
778M km
Year Length
12 Earth Years
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and a gas giant. Its famous Great Red Spot is a storm that has been raging for over 400 years. Jupiter has a powerful magnetic field and at least 95 known moons, including the four large Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, which are of great interest to scientists studying potential habitability.
Saturn
Gas Giant
Distance from Sun
1.4B km
Year Length
29 Earth Years
Saturn is famous for its spectacular ring system, composed mainly of ice particles, rocky debris, and dust. It's the second-largest planet in our solar system and has more moons than any other planet. Saturn's density is so low that it would float if placed in water large enough to hold it.
Uranus
Ice Giant
Distance from Sun
2.9B km
Year Length
84 Earth Years
Uranus is an ice giant with a unique characteristic: it rotates on its side, with its axis tilted at about 98 degrees. This unusual tilt likely resulted from a collision with an Earth-sized object long ago. Uranus has a blue-green color due to methane in its atmosphere and was the first planet discovered using a telescope.
Neptune
Ice Giant
Distance from Sun
4.5B km
Year Length
165 Earth Years
Neptune is the most distant planet from the Sun and the windiest place in our solar system, with winds reaching speeds of 2,100 km/h. This ice giant has a vivid blue color due to methane in its atmosphere. Neptune was the first planet located through mathematical predictions rather than by direct observation.