Understanding Our Solar System

The human race has always been fascinated with the universe and solar system. But it is with just cause that we are. We still have no idea what truly lies beyond our Milky Way. Our galaxy is a mere spec in the grander scheme of things. There is no way anyone can truly comprehend the expanse of the universe. But still, people try. We are truly fascinated by what lays hidden amidst the starts.

Many countries spend millions on space exploration. The galaxy has become such an enigma that even privately owned companies are delving into space projects. We may have put a man on the moon and a machine on Mars. But we still haven’t yet scratched the surface of our solar system. Neighboring planets remain unexplored. This is baffling to consider, especially since we still have a whole span of the universe to cover.

How Big Is Our Solar System?

A hot question on most science buff’s lips is the size of our solar system. We know we are nine planets strong (since Pluto was welcomed back to the planetary gang in 2017). But what does that mean in measurable terms? Well, to put it in perspective, our planetary system is estimated to span 122 astronomical units long. One astronomical unit (AU) comes in at approximately 93,000,000 miles (yes, ninety-three-million miles). To help you realize the vastness of that figure, our whole planet’s total circumference is only 24,901 miles. Kind of makes you feel small, doesn’t it?

Uncovering Our Planetary System

If you’re truly devoted to getting perspective on the solar system, go ahead. The easiest way to try and make sense of things is through scaled imagery. Feel free to take a gander at the infographic below. This will explain the spans of our solar system. It will also explain the relative positioning within it.

Source: http://www.space.com/10900-solar-system-planets-scale-infographic.html