What does the Solar System consist of?

The Solar System consists of the Sun and eight planets that orbit it. The Sun is the central star of the Solar System, providing the gravitational pull that keeps the planets in their orbits. The eight recognized planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each of these planets has unique characteristics and orbits the Sun in a nearly circular path.

This definition of the Solar System is based on the current astronomical understanding of our celestial neighborhood, emphasizing the relationship between the central star (the Sun) and the various planets that revolve around it. This structure also includes other celestial bodies such as dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, but the core definition focuses on the Sun and the eight main planets.

The other options do not adequately represent what constitutes the Solar System. For instance, stating that it consists of only "two planets" significantly underrepresents the number of planets, and defining it as just "Earth and its natural satellites" ignores the presence of other planets and the Sun. Lastly, referring to "the largest stars in the universe" does not pertain to the structure of the Solar System, as it does not involve the Sun or any of the planets that orbit it.