The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the objects that orbit it, either directly or indirectly.
The Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud.
The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun, with the majority of the remaining mass contained in 8 planets.
An astronomical object consisting of a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its own gravity.
An astronomical body orbiting a star or stellar remnant.
Has a significant mass.
Must be big enough to have enough gravity to force it into a spherical shape.
Cannot luminesce.
Must be big enough that its gravity cleared away any other objects of a similar size near its orbit around the Sun.
A planetary-mass object that does not dominate its region of space as a classical planet does.
In direct orbit of the Sun.
Massive enough to be plastic for its gravity to maintain it in a hydrostatically equilibrious shape (usually a spheroid).
Has not cleared their orbital path.
Not a satellite.
An astronomical body that orbits a planet or minor planet (Earth - Moon).
A planet orbiting a star (Sun - Earth).
