The largest objects in the solar system

Table of solar system objects classified by size

The solar system is the name given to the planetary system made up of the Sun and the celestial objects orbiting around it. Our solar system has only one star, the Sun. However astronomers have observed that multiple solar systems, with two, three or more stars, are numerous. Without competition, the Sun has become gigantic, it has captured 99.86% of the total mass of dust and gas from the original nebula. Jupiter, the largest planet in the system, captured 71% of the remainder. The other planets have shared the residue of this gravitational evolution.

Definition of planet

“A planet is a celestial body which is in orbit around the Sun, which has sufficient mass for its gravity to overcome the cohesive forces of the solid body and maintain it in hydrostatic equilibrium (spherical shape), and which has eliminated any body moving in a near orbit”.

This definition was approved on August 24, 2006, during the 26th General Assembly of the UAI by a show of hands of 400 scientists after ten days of discussions.