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Dernière mise à jour : 29 août 2025

Planets and dwarf planets of the solar system

Definition of planet: “A planet is a celestial body that 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 eliminated any body moving in a close orbit. This definition was approved on August 24, 2006, during the 26th General Assembly of the IAU by a show of hands of 400 scientists after ten days of discussions.
If we could look at the Solar System from the outside, far above the Earth's north pole, we would see the planets rotating around the Sun, counterclockwise. We would see that the rotation disk of the planets is remarkably flat, only Mercury has an orbit inclined relative to the others (7°). But we wouldn't notice the planets rotating on their axis. Each planet revolves around a different axis of rotation.

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Perihelion and Aphelion: The Apsides in the Solar System Perihelion and Aphelion: The Apsides in the Solar System
Winds of the solar system and giant planets Winds of the solar system and giant planets
3D Simulator: Revolutions of the Planets 3D Simulator: Revolutions of the Planets
Planet Mercury Planet Mercury
Venus, the Shepherd's Star Venus, the Shepherd's Star
Earth, the Blue Planet: A Fragile Jewel in the Universe Earth, the Blue Planet: A Fragile Jewel in the Universe
Mars: The Conquests and First Human Steps on the Red Planet Mars: The Conquests and First Human Steps on the Red Planet
Planet Jupiter Planet Jupiter
Saturn: The Ringed Giant of Ice and Rock Saturn: The Ringed Giant of Ice and Rock
Planet Uranus Planet Uranus
Neptune: The Blue Giant of the Solar System Neptune: The Blue Giant of the Solar System
Roche limit Roche limit
Remarkable characteristics of the planet Mercury Remarkable characteristics of the planet Mercury
Remarkable characteristics of the planet Venus Remarkable characteristics of the planet Venus
Remarkable features of planet Earth Remarkable features of planet Earth
Remarkable characteristics of the planet Mars Remarkable characteristics of the planet Mars
Remarkable characteristics of the planet Jupiter Remarkable characteristics of the planet Jupiter
Remarkable characteristics of the planet Saturn Remarkable characteristics of the planet Saturn
Remarkable characteristics of the planet Uranus Remarkable characteristics of the planet Uranus
Remarkable characteristics of the planet Neptune Remarkable characteristics of the planet Neptune
Characteristics of Planets: What Makes Them Unique Characteristics of Planets: What Makes Them Unique
Venus, Veiled Planet: A Puzzle in our Solar System Venus, Veiled Planet: A Puzzle in our Solar System
Live on Mars Live on Mars
The seven wonders of the World The seven wonders of the World
Planet 9 is still nowhere in sight Planet 9 is still nowhere in sight
Axial Tilt of Planets: An Unstable Dance Through the Ages Axial Tilt of Planets: An Unstable Dance Through the Ages
Comparative sizes of planets and stars Comparative sizes of planets and stars
The Journey of the Planets Along the Ecliptic: A Cosmic Choreography The Journey of the Planets Along the Ecliptic: A Cosmic Choreography
Equation for the orbital speed of a planet Equation for the orbital speed of a planet
Declination and right ascension Declination and right ascension
Saturn's Rings: A Ring System in Jeopardy Saturn's Rings: A Ring System in Jeopardy

Articles on the same theme

Dwarf Planets: The Forgotten Worlds of the Solar System Dwarf Planets: The Forgotten Worlds of the Solar System
Physical Composition of Trans-Neptunian Objects in the Kuiper Belt Physical Composition of Trans-Neptunian Objects in the Kuiper Belt
Haumea and its Moons: A Singularity of the Solar System Haumea and its Moons: A Singularity of the Solar System
The Enigma of the Oort Cloud: Indirect Evidence and Uncertainties The Enigma of the Oort Cloud: Indirect Evidence and Uncertainties
Sedna: Between the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud Sedna: Between the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud
Quaoar: The Dwarf Planet Defying the Roche Limit with its Rings Quaoar: The Dwarf Planet Defying the Roche Limit with its Rings
The 40 largest objects in the solar system The 40 largest objects in the solar system
Pluto's Satellites: Strange Companions in the Dwarf Planet's Shadow Pluto's Satellites: Strange Companions in the Dwarf Planet's Shadow
Ceres: Boundary Between Asteroid and Dwarf Planet Ceres: Boundary Between Asteroid and Dwarf Planet
Pluto and its Moons: Charon, Nix, Hydra, Styx, and Kerberos Pluto and its Moons: Charon, Nix, Hydra, Styx, and Kerberos
Eris: The Dwarf Planet at the Edge of the Solar System Eris: The Dwarf Planet at the Edge of the Solar System