ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly reviews the characteristics of our solar system to aid in our nightscape quests, including the differences between its eight planets. It helps us to learn about several new and striking astronomical phenomena associated with the solar system: planetary conjunctions, the zodiacal light, and solar and lunar analemmas. The solar system comprises the sun, the planets, their moons, and all of the asteroids and comets that are held in place by the sun's gravity. The systematic difference in size between the solar system's eight planets is a striking characteristic. The zodiacal light is a cone of diffuse, white light emanating upwards from the horizon above where the sun has set or will rise. The zodiacal light is best seen during the spring equinox during early astronomical twilight in the evening, and during the autumnal equinox during late astronomical twilight in the morning.
