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Which objects in the solar system do astronomers study?
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Astronomy
Hubble Space Telescope, photographed by the space shuttle Discovery.
Astronomers study a wide variety of objects within the solar system, which consists of the Sun and all the bodies that orbit it. These objects include:1
- Planets: There are eight recognized planets in our solar system, categorized as either terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) or giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).3
- Moons: Astronomers study the more than 400 known planetary satellites, or moons, that orbit these planets.12
- Dwarf Planets: This category includes objects like Pluto, Ceres, and Eris, which meet some but not all criteria to be classified as planets.3
- Small Bodies: This includes asteroids, comets, and other icy bodies.14
- Interplanetary Medium: Astronomers also investigate the vast reaches of gas, dust, and micrometeoroids that fill the space between these larger bodies.15
By analyzing data from telescopes, space probes, and returned samples, astronomers aim to understand the composition, motion, and evolution of these diverse celestial bodies.1