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The Solar System

Planet Basics

What are some kinds of unofficial classifications of planets?

Unofficial classifications of planets in our own solar system include terrestrial planets, gas giant planets, major planets, minor planets, inner planets, outer planets, and possibly icy planets. Remember, though, that about one thousand planets outside our solar system are now known, and thousands of additional planet candidates await confirmation. So other unofficial categories like exoplanets, hot Jupiters, and rogue planets are now used as well.



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