You may think of our solar system as just our sun,the only star, and the nine known planets. Butother things are in the solar system, too.First, there are many satellites. A satellite is anysmall body orbiting a larger one. The moon isEarth’s natural satellite. There are also manyartificial satellites orbiting Earth, which are usedfor observation and communication.Within the space of our solar system are alsocountless asteroids—chunks of rock or metal thatrange in size from small planets to grains of sand.The heaviest concentration is the asteroid belt,where thousands orbit the sun between Jupiter andMars. Sometimes asteroids enter the Earth’satmosphere. We call these meteors.Our solar system is also host to comets—chunks of rock, ice, and gas—that pass through our space.Occasionally we can see their telltale vapor tail.The best-known of these is Haley’s Comet, whichpasses into our view every 76 years. Its nextsighting should occur in 2061.