The Solar System in 3D
An interactive, to-scale model of the Sun's planetary system. Each orbit ring is drawn at the planet's real semi-major axis, so the true structure of the system — the crowded inner planets and the vast reaches of the outer ones — is genuine. Drag to rotate the system, scroll to zoom.
What this scene shows
To scale — real relative distances
Real semi-major axes (astronomical units) from the solar-system catalogue; orbit sizes are to scale. Each planet is marked on its orbit at an illustrative angle — the along-orbit phase is schematic, not a computed ephemeris.
This is a scale diagram of orbital distances, not a live sky ephemeris: the angular position of each planet along its orbit is illustrative. Moons are not placed (their orbits are tiny at this scale) — they are catalogued in the Moon Explorer.
The objects in this scene
The same measured data as the visual scene, as a table — readable without JavaScript and by a screen reader.
Highlights
- ›Orbit radii are the real semi-major axes, to scale
What it draws on
Knowledge connections
- Associated withSolar System Explorer
- Associated withEarth
- Associated withJupiter
- Associated withNeptune
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.