answersLogoWhite

0

The size of the Solar System depends partly on what are considered to be its outermost reaches. There are three main candidates:

  • the aphelion of the orbit of the farthest planet,
  • the farthest observable object which orbits the sun,
  • or the edge of the heliosphere.

The furthest distance from the sun reached by the outermost planet, Neptune, is approx 4.5 billion kilometres and this would give the Solar System a diameter of 9.1 billion km. (This definition depends on Eris remaining a dwarf planet and not attaining planetary status.)


The most distance observable object in the Solar System is Sedna. It is 143.7 billion km from the Sun, thus giving the Solar System a diameter of 287.5 billion km or approx 1922 AU.


The heliosphere is the region within which the solar wind pushes against the interstellar medium, or where the Sun's gravity is stronger than that of other stars. The edge of the heliosphere, called the heliopause is reached at a distance of 90 AU giving the heliosphere a diameter of 180 AU.


Incidentally, although at its aphelion, Sedna is outside the heliosphere, its orbit is very eccentric and brings it to 76 AU at its nearest approach to the sun - well within the heliosphere.


User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What Is The Universe And What lyes there?

The Universe Is A Place That Might as Well Be A Spec to us and we have not discovered it but the universe is the solar system and beyond and different dimensions


What do you call the tiny part of our galaxy in our solar system?

"Our solar system." The "part of our galaxy" that's in our solar system is the solar system.


What is your solar system called?

Our Solar System is called the Solar System, Why?, what do you Aliens call it.


Is there a mini solar system or binary star system in our solar system?

No. There is one star in our solar system, and no other solar systems within it.


What is the name for solar system?

The solar system


What is the name of your solar system?

My solar system (and yours if you are from Earth) is just called "The Solar System".


What was the solar system when the moon formed?

When the Moon was formed, the Solar System WAS already a solar system.


What exoplanets are in our solar system?

There are no exoplanets in our solar system. By definition, an exoplanet is a planet that is not in our solar system.


Is earth apart of the solar system?

It is a part of the solar system, however, it is not apart of the solar system.


Is the Milky Way biggest galaxy in your solar system?

The Milky Way is not in our solar system. Our solar system is in the Milky Way. There are no galaxies in our solar system.


How is the solar system different from a system?

The solar system is , in fact, a type of system.


How the solar system got its name?

Solar means space and the Solar System is a system (with the moon, sun, planets, stars, etc.) so the Solar System is really a Space System.