How many planets are there in the Solar System?

The Solar System is made up of the Sun and all celestial bodies that orbit it under the influence of gravity. Among these bodies, planets hold a special place. Currently, there are 8 recognized planets in the Solar System.

The four inner, or terrestrial planets, are:

1. 
   

   Mercury – Smallest and closest to the Sun.

   
   


2. 
   

   Venus – Known for its thick atmosphere and extreme greenhouse effect.

   
   


3. 
   

   Earth – The only planet known to support life.

   
   


4. 
   

   Mars – Called the Red Planet, with a thin atmosphere and surface features similar to deserts.

   
   

The four outer, or giant planets, are:
5. Jupiter – The largest planet, with a Great Red Spot and dozens of moons.
6. Saturn – Famous for its beautiful ring system.
7. Uranus – An ice giant that rotates on its side.
8. Neptune – The farthest planet, known for its strong winds and deep blue color.

For many years, Pluto was considered the ninth planet. However, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined what qualifies as a planet. A planet must:

• 
  

  Orbit the Sun.

  
  


• 
  

  Be spherical in shape.

  
  


• 
  

  Clear its orbit of other objects.

  
  

Pluto does not meet the third condition, because it shares its orbit with many icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt. As a result, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

This reclassification reduced the official count of planets from 9 to 8. These 8 planets are now universally accepted as the main members of the Solar System.

In conclusion, the correct answer is D) 8. This structure of the Solar System helps us understand not only Earth’s place in space but also the diversity of planetary systems.