our solar system

• what galaxy is our solar system part of?

  the Milky Way galaxy
• what does our solar system consist of?

  • one star
  • the Sun
  • 8 planets & dwarf planets that orbit the sun
  • natural satellites - the moons that orbit planets
• how was the Sun formed?

  a cloud of dust & gas - nebula pulled together by gravitational attraction
• what type of reactions take place at the start of a stars life cycle as dust & gas is drawn together?

  fusion reactions
• what do fusion reactions lead to?

  an equilibrium between the gravitational collapse of a star & the expansion of a star due to fusion energy