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Members

1) Planets - 9 all together. 2 closer to the sun; 6 further away.

2) Satellites (or moons) - of other planets; many dozens are known.

3) Asteroids - thousands of small solid objects revolving about the sun in orbits roughly between Mars and Jupiter.

4) Comets - small objects revolving in highly eccentric orbits about the sun, periods of about 3 years to hundreds of years.

All of the above are visible only because they reflect sunlight.

5) Meteors - shooting stars; rocks which hit the earth's atmosphere and burn up in a flash.



2001-09-04