Solar system. Artwork of the solar system,showing the paths (blue lines) of the nine planets as they orbit around the Sun. The four inner planets are (from inner to outer): Mercury,Venus,Earth and Mars. Around the inner solar system is a broad belt containing thousands of minor planets (asteroids). The five outer planets are (inner to outer): Jupiter (lower right),Saturn (lower left),Uranus (upper centre),Neptune (upper right) and Pluto (far right,a Dwarf planet). The star clouds of our galaxy,the Milky Way,appear as a broad luminous band at upper right |