The solar system now
Every planet where it is today, seen from above. Slide through time to watch them move, and tap a planet for its distance from Earth today, its size and the missions that went there.
0 viewsSeen from above the Sun's north pole. Directions are true; distances from the Sun are squeezed (shown by their square root) so the outer planets fit, and the planets are drawn far bigger than they are.
Questions people ask
How are the positions worked out?
From NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's published orbital elements for the planets, which give their positions to within a small fraction of a degree for any date between 1800 and 2050. Sureno calculates them in your browser for the date you choose.
Why does the distance to Mars change so much?
Earth and Mars both circle the Sun, at different speeds. When they are on the same side, Mars can come within about 55 million km; on opposite sides it is over 400 million km away. The same is true, on a bigger scale, for every planet.
Which planets can I see tonight?
See Tonight's sky, which works out what is above your horizon after dark, and where to look.
Positions calculated by Sureno from NASA/JPL orbital elements. Planet photos: NASA and Wikimedia Commons, credited on each picture.