The Solar System · Overview
This section covers the main bodies of the Solar System: the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and small bodies such as dwarf planets, comets, and meteors. These are the nearest and most accessible objects to observe, and they form the starting point of the learning path, providing the foundation for the deep-sky observing and astrophotography that follow.
What this section covers
Section titled “What this section covers” The Sun Structure, nuclear fusion, sunspots and the activity cycle, plus safe solar observing.
The Moon Phases and the synodic month, libration, maria and craters, eclipses and supermoons.
Planets Terrestrial vs giant planets, inner and outer planet phases, oppositions and retrograde motion.
Dwarf Planets · Comets · Meteors Dwarf planets and the asteroid belt, the Kuiper belt and Oort cloud, comet structure and meteor showers.