What best describes a solar system?

• A. The Sun and all objects that orbit it, such as planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids
• B. The Sun and only its planets
• C. Only stars and planets
• D. Only planets, moons, and asteroids

Answer: (B)

A solar system is the Sun and all the objects bound to it by gravity that orbit the Sun. That includes the eight planets, their moons, and many smaller bodies such as asteroids, comets, and meteoroids, plus other objects like dwarf planets and Kuiper Belt objects. The Sun acts as the central anchor, with gravity keeping all these bodies in orbit around it. Saying the Sun and only its planets misses a lot of other objects that share the same gravitational system, so it isn’t a complete description. The most accurate understanding is that a solar system encompasses the Sun and all objects that orbit it.