There are 8 planets in our solar system (as of February 22, 2026). This has been the official count since 2006, when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined what qualifies as a planet and reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet.
The IAU definition requires a body to:
Orbit the Sun,
Be massive enough to be nearly round (hydrostatic equilibrium),
Have “cleared its neighborhood” (gravitationally dominate its orbital path, not sharing it with many similar objects).
Pluto meets the first two but not the third, so it’s a dwarf planet (along with others like Ceres, Eris, Haumea, and Makemake).
The 8 Planets (in order from the Sun outward):
Mercury — The smallest planet, closest to the Sun, with extreme temperature swings.
Venus — Similar in size to Earth but with a thick, toxic atmosphere and the hottest surface.
Earth — Our home planet, the only known one with liquid water on the surface and life.
Mars — The “Red Planet,” with evidence of ancient water and ongoing exploration by rovers.
Jupiter — The largest planet, a gas giant with a massive storm (Great Red Spot) and many moons.
Saturn — Famous for its stunning ring system, another gas giant.
Uranus — An ice giant that rotates on its side, giving it extreme seasons.
Neptune — The farthest planet, a deep blue ice giant with strong winds.
These 8 are the officially recognized planets—no changes have occurred by 2026, despite ongoing discoveries of exoplanets (planets around other stars) and debates about distant objects in our own system.
(Note: Recent news about “planet parades” in February 2026 refers to alignments of some of these planets visible in the sky, not new planets being discovered!)
If you’re asking about exoplanets (planets outside our solar system), thousands are confirmed, but the question seems to focus on our own solar system. Let me know if you’d like more details on any planet, dwarf planets, or visuals!