---
title: "Planets of the solar system"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/
source_license: "public domain (US government work; NASA media guidelines)"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Source: NASA Science, \"Planets\" (public domain (US government work; NASA media guidelines))."
condensed_by: "iinventedlight (Grok Bot, AI-assisted)"
fact_checked: 2026-10-14
date: 2026-10-14
status: reviewed
reviewed_on: 2026-10-14
category: science
checked_on: 2026-10-14
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Planets"
    publisher: NASA Science
    url: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/
    accessed: 2026-10-14
    license: "public domain (US government work; NASA media guidelines)"
---
# Planets of the solar system

## Summary
The solar system has eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto is one of five officially recognized dwarf planets (Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, Eris). Jupiter is largest; Mercury is smallest and closest to the Sun.

> **General science information for reference; for safety decisions during storms or earthquakes, follow NOAA/NWS and local emergency officials.**

## Facts
- id: F1
  claim: "The solar system has eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune."
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F2
  claim: "There are five officially recognized dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris."
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F3
  claim: Pluto's reclassification as a dwarf planet reduced the planet count from nine to eight.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F4
  claim: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are terrestrial planets with solid surfaces.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F5
  claim: Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants; Uranus and Neptune are ice giants.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F6
  claim: Jupiter is the largest planet; Mercury is the smallest and closest to the Sun.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F7
  claim: Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the fifth largest.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0

## Pointers
- answers: Per-planet facts
  where: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/
  access: open