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PIA11800: Our Solar System Features Eight Planets
Our solar system features eight planets, seen in this artist's diagram. This representation is intentionally fanciful, as the planets are depicted far closer together than they really are.
 Product Size:  5775 x 3627 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  JPL 
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA11800.tif (62.84 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA11800.jpg (1.881 MB)  

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

Our solar system features eight planets, seen in this artist's diagram.

This representation is intentionally fanciful, as the planets are depicted far closer together than they really are. Similarly, the bodies' relative sizes are inaccurate. This is done for the purpose of being able to depict the solar system and still represent the bodies with some detail. (Otherwise the Sun would be a mere speck, and the planets —even the majestic Jupiter—would be far too small to be seen.)

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL

Image Addition Date:
2008-11-19