The Physics of the Universe
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Interactive Solar System

Watch the eight planets orbit the Sun in order. Tap or click any planet to jump to its facts below.

Tap a planet for its facts

The eight planets in order from the Sun

#PlanetDistance from SunDiameterDay lengthYear lengthAverage temperatureMoons
1Mercury57.9 million km (0.39 AU)4,879 km1,408 hours (58.6 Earth days)88 Earth days167 °C average0
2Venus108.2 million km (0.72 AU)12,104 km5,832 hours (243 days, retrograde)225 Earth days464 °C0
3Earth149.6 million km (1 AU)12,742 km24 hours365.25 days15 °C1
4Mars227.9 million km (1.52 AU)6,779 km24.7 hours687 Earth days−65 °C2
5Jupiter778.5 million km (5.2 AU)139,820 km9.9 hours11.9 Earth years−110 °C95
6Saturn1,434 million km (9.5 AU)116,460 km10.7 hours29.4 Earth years−140 °C146
7Uranus2,871 million km (19.2 AU)50,724 km17.2 hours84 Earth years−195 °C27
8Neptune4,495 million km (30.1 AU)49,244 km16.1 hours165 Earth years−200 °C14

A memory aid for the order: My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Noodles. Distances and planet sizes in the animation are compressed so every orbit fits on screen.

Frequently asked questions

What are the planets in order from the Sun?

From the Sun outward: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The first four are small rocky planets and the outer four are giant gas and ice planets.

How many planets are in the solar system?

Eight. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, along with other small bodies such as Eris, Ceres, Haumea and Makemake.

Which planet is the hottest?

Venus, averaging about 464 degrees Celsius. Its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat in a runaway greenhouse effect, so it is hotter than Mercury even though Mercury orbits closer to the Sun.

Which planet has the most moons?

Saturn currently leads with 146 confirmed moons, just ahead of Jupiter with 95. Both totals keep rising as surveys find more small moons.

Which planet has the longest and shortest day?

Venus has the longest day at about 243 Earth days, longer than its own year. Jupiter has the shortest at under 10 hours, because it spins very fast for its size.

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