![Solar System Exploration (1) Solar System Exploration (1)](https://i0.wp.com/images-assets.nasa.gov/image/PIA01341/PIA01341~large.jpg?w=1570&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint)
Many Worlds
Our solar system has a star, eight planets, five dwarf planets, and thousands of asteroids, and comets.
![Solar System Exploration (2) Solar System Exploration (2)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Spitzer_Milky_Way_1600px.jpeg?w=4096&format=jpeg&crop=1)
Meet Me in the Orion Arm
Our solar system orbits the center of the Milky Way galaxy. We’re in one of the galaxy’s four spiral arms.
![Solar System Exploration (3) Solar System Exploration (3)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/solarsystem-gallery.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg&crop=1)
A Long Way Around
It takes our solar system about 230 million years to complete one orbit around the galactic center.
![Solar System Exploration (4) Solar System Exploration (4)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Sun_in_Milky_Way-1.jpeg?w=4096&format=jpeg&crop=1)
Spiraling Through Space
There are three general kinds of galaxies: elliptical, irregular, and spiral. The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.
![Solar System Exploration (5) Solar System Exploration (5)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/earth-iss-atmosphere-1920x640-1.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg&crop=1)
Room to Breathe
Our solar system has no atmosphere. But it has many worlds – including Earth – with many kinds of atmospheres.
![Solar System Exploration (6) Solar System Exploration (6)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/150260main_image_feature_592_ys_full.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg&crop=1)
Many Moons
Our solar system has more than 200 moons.
![Solar System Exploration (7) Solar System Exploration (7)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/saturn-rings-hubble.png?w=4096&format=png&crop=1)
Ring Worlds
The four giant planets – and at least one asteroid – have rings.
![Solar System Exploration (8) Solar System Exploration (8)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/apollo-toolkit.png?w=4096&format=png&crop=1)
Getting Out There
More than 300 robotic spacecraft have left Earth's orbit, and 24 U.S. astronauts have traveled to the Moon.
![Solar System Exploration (9) Solar System Exploration (9)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/earth-gallery.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg&crop=1)
Life as We Know It
So far, Earth is the only place we've found life in our solar system, but we’re looking.
![Solar System Exploration (10) Solar System Exploration (10)](https://i0.wp.com/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/voyager-400w.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg&crop=1)
Going Interstellar
The Voyagers are the only spacecraft to reach interstellar space.