Real pictures of solar system planets

Where can I find high-resolution images of the Solar System?

Explore NASA's media galleries to view and download high-resolution images of the solar system, agency missions, and more. Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

Are there any good pictures of the planets?

And in the age of modern astronomy, which goes beyond terrestrial telescopes to space telescopes, orbiters and satellites, there is no shortage of pictures of the planets. But here are a few of the better ones, taken with high-resolutions cameras on board spacecraft that managed to capture their intricate, picturesque, and rugged beauty.

How many planets are in our Solar System?

Our solar system is made up of a star—the Sun—eight planets, more than 140 moons, a bunch of comets, asteroids and space rocks, ice, and several dwarf planets, such as Pluto.

What objects are in our Solar System?

Our solar system contains objects ranging in size from the sun, the largest item, to tiny grains of rock in the asteroid belt. Take a tour of our cosmic neighborhood in pictures. Come on, let's go!

Which planet has the best image ever taken of a dwarf planet?

Each and every planet—and one dwarf planet—in our solar system, represented with the single best image ever taken of it. Say hello to our neighbors. Can't get enough of this marble. NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring Mercury, as seen by MESSENGER. NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

Which planet is closest to the Sun?

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It's also the smallest in our solar system ever since Pluto got demoted to dwarf-planet status. The crater that appears to have lighter rays emanating from its center is called Debussy for the French composer. NASA published this global view of Mercury in 2014.