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Article: solar system
- Article from:
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
CopyrightThe Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information)
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solar system the sun and the surrounding planets, natural
satellites
, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The
sun
is by far the most massive part of the solar system, containing almost 99.9% of the system's total mass. The principal members of the sun's retinue are the eight major
planets
; other parts of the solar system are discussed in separate articles: see
comet
,
asteroid
, and
meteor
.
The Planets
In order of increasing average distance from the sun, the planets are
Mercury
,
Venus
,
earth
,
Mars
,
Jupiter
,
Saturn
,
Uranus
, and
Neptune
. The planets orbiting nearer the sun than the earth are termed inferior planets; ...