Known populations of solar system objects

Known populations of solar system objects: 25 July 2022

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 25 July 2022

For related historical graphs see Historical known populations of solar system objects.

Summary

Star: 1

Planets*: 8
Dwarf planets*: 5 (5 named)
Asteroids*: 1,213,898 (615,648 numbered, 598,250 provisional)
Outer solar system objects*: 4,451 (1,037 numbered, 3,380 provisional, 34 without official designations)
Comets**: 7,546 (433 numbered**, 3,890 with provisional designations, 3,224 without official designations)

Interstellar objects: 2 (2 numbered)

Moons of planets: 210 (182 numbered, 25 provisional, 3 without official designations)
Moons of dwarf planets: 9 (8 numbered, 1 provisional)
Moons of asteroids: 361 (17 numbered, 18 provisional, 326 without official designations)
Moons of outer solar system objects: 119 (17 numbered, 2 provisional, 100 without official designations)

Objects with ring systems: 6 (4 planets, 1 dwarf planet, 1 Centaur)

Total objects: 1,226,610 (617,358 with permanent designations, 605,566 with provisional designations, 3,687 without official designations)

Objects with names:
--1 star, 8 planets, 5 dwarf planets, 23,183 asteroids, 53 outer solar system objects
--166 planet moons, 8 dwarf planet moons, 17 asteroid moons, 17 outer solar system object moons
--6,897 comets, 2 interstellar objects

Counts are based on current officially assigned permanent or provisional designations with exceptions as noted in the notes and table below. Counts are up-to-date through 25 July 2022.
* Note: "dwarf planet" is a new classification invented by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in August 2006. At that time the IAU declared Pluto a dwarf planet but not a planet, and also classified (136199) Eris and (1) Ceres as dwarf planets. In July 2008 (136472) Makemake was declared the fourth dwarf planet, and in September 2008 (136108) Haumea the fifth. Though the dwarf planet classification is still disputed, these five objects are not included here in the counts of asteroids and outer solar system objects, and Pluto is not included in the count of planets. At least one more outer solar system object, (225088) Gonggong, should be in this group, but since the IAU has not applied their definition in this case it is not counted here as a dwarf planet.
** Note: excludes two objects with dual asteroid/comet designations counted among Centaurs (Chiron and Echeclus) and seven objects with dual asteroid/comet designations counted among numbered asteroids.

Known populations of solar system objects--detail

objects, Uranus Trojans period, non-Jupiter family objects, Centaurs objects, Neptune Trojans objects, Kuiper belt objects objects, scattered disk objects objects, Sednoids >total

* Note: Long-period comets with no official designation include: 2,674 SOHO comets, 87 STEREO comets, 2 other modern comets, and 449 pre-modern comets. The pre-modern comets typically have no computed orbits.
Provisional asteroid and comets numbers do not all represent unique objects (i.e., many provisional objects have been counted more than once in as yet unlinked observations).
Counts exclude objects assigned designations but known or strongly suspected destroyed: 87 comets that hit the Sun, 25 fragments of Shoemaker-Levy 9 that hit Jupiter, and 5 asteroids that hit the Earth (all small enought to be destroyed in the atmosphere). Many small SOHO comets likely evaporated completely in near-solar passes but are counted as destruction is not confirmed.
As of 28 November 2020, man-made objects in the solar system include an estimated 325 orbiting the Sun, 6 orbiting Venus, 18 orbiting Mars, 1 each orbiting (1) Ceres, Jupiter, and Saturn, and 8 escaping the solar system. This is mentioned here since several objects tracked as minor planets are believed to be spent rocket boosters or other man-made objects: 2010 KQ, 2018 AV2, 2020 SO, and J002E3.
Counts are based primarily on data from: the Minor Planet Center web site; The Catalogue of Cometary Orbits 1999 (Marsden and Williams); The Catalogue of Cometary Orbits 2005 (Marsden and Williams); Cometography, Vol. I (Kronk, 1999); International Comet Quarterly web site; the National Space Science Data Center web site; the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory web site; and the web site for the Asteroid Orbital Elements Database (Bowell) on Lowell Observatory's web site.
© 2001-2021, 2022 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last updated 25 July 2022.
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type of object star
planets
dwarf planets
--Mercury moons
asteroids, Atira
--Atira asteroid moons
--Venus moons
asteroids, Aten
--Aten asteroid moons
--Earth moons
asteroids, Earth Trojans
asteroids, Apollo
--Apollo asteroid moons
asteroids, Amor
--Amor asteroid moons
--Mars moons
asteroids, Mars Trojans
--Mars Trojan asteroid moons
asteroids, Mars crossers
--Mars crosser asteroid moons
asteroids, main belt
--main belt asteroid moons
--Ceres moons
comets, Jupiter family
--Jupiter moons
asteroids, Jupiter Trojans
--Jupiter Trojan asteroid moons
asteroids, other unusual
--Saturn moons
--Uranus moons
outer solar system
comets, short
outer solar system
--Centaur moons
--Neptune moons
outer solar system
outer solar system
--Kuiper belt object moons
--Pluto moons
--Haumea moons
--Makemake moons
outer solar system
--scattered disk object moons
--Eris moons
outer solar system
comets, long-period*
comets, ejected
interstellar objects
type of object >total permanent designation (those with names) provisional designation no official designation first one
discovered year
disc. notes

1 1 (1) 0 0 Sun

8 8 (8) 0 0 Earth As currently defined by IAU.

5 5 (5) 0 0 (1) Ceres 1801 As currently defined by IAU.

0 0 (0) 0 0 (none)

28 8 (1) 20 0 (163693) Atira 2003 Asteroids with orbits entirely inside the Earth's orbit.

1 0 (0) 0 1 (no designation) 2017

0 0 (0) 0 0 (none)

2,289 255 (13) 2,034 0 (2062) Aten 1976 Asteroids with semimajor axes less than 1.0 AU.

8 1 (1) 0 7 (no designation) 1999

1 1 (1) 0 0 Moon

2 1 (0) 1 0 2010 TK7 2010 Asteroid orbiting the Sun in Earth's L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behing Earth, respectively). Does not include non-Trojan coorbital objects, such as 2002 AA29.

14,945 1,494 (71) 13,451 0 (1862) Apollo 1932 Asteroids (other than Atens and Earth trojans) crossing the Earth's orbit.

53 1 (1) 3 49 (no designation) 1997

11,985 1,347 (79) 10,638 0 (433) Eros 1898 Asteroids (other than Aitras, Atens, Apollos, or Earth trojans) with perihelion distances less than 1.3 AU.

29 0 (0) 0 29 (no designation) 1997

2 2 (2) 0 0 Phobos 1877

9 5 (1) 4 0 (5261) Eureka 1990 Asteroids orbiting the Sun in Mars' L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behind Mars, respectively).

1 0 (0) 0 1 (no designation) 2014

23,016 6,180 (270) 16,836 0 (132) Aethra 1873 Asteroids (other than Atiras, Atens, Apollos, or Mars trojans) crossing Mars' orbit.

31 0 (0) 1 30 (no designation) 2014

1,149,199 600,034 (22,439) 549,165 0 (2) Pallas 1802 Asteroids not counted elsewhere (some may cross the orbits of Mars or Jupiter). Excludes (1) Ceres which is declared a dwarf planet by the IAU.

232 12 (12) 14 206 Dacytl 1993

0 0 (0) 0 0 (none)

782 410 (782) 372 0 Comets with Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter less than 2 (generally, comets with periods less than 20 years).

80 72 (56) 8 0 Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto 1610 Does not include 57 objects without computed orbits.

11,936 6,295 (304) 5,641 0 (588) Achilles 1906 Asteroids orbiting the Sun in Jupiter's L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behind Jupiter, respectively).

6 3 (3) 0 3 Menoetius 2001

489 29 (5) 460 0 (944) Hidalgo 1920 Asteroids with aphelion distances greater than 7.5 AU, other than those in other categories.

86 66 (66) 17 3 Titan 1655 Includes 3 persistent objects without official designations in Saturn's rings but excludes other provisional objects which may be clumps of ring material (e.g., S/2004 S3 and S/2004 S4) and excludes 9 other objects detected in rings without official designations.

27 27 (27) 0 0 Titania and Oberon 1787
1 0 (0) 1 0 2011 QF99 2011 Objects orbiting the Sun in Uranus' L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behind Uranus, respectively).
118 22 (115) 95 1 Comets with orbital periods less than 200 years, other than Jupiter family members. Excludes 2 objects with dual designations counted among Centaurs (Chiron and Echeclus).
523 208 (20) 313 2 (2060) Chiron 1977 Outer solar system objects beyond Saturn outside the main Kuiper Belt, generally those crossing within the orbit of Neptune. Sources differ on the division between Centaurs and scattered disk objects.

2 2 (2) 0 0 Phorcys 2006

14 14 (14) 0 0 Triton 1846
32 7 (2) 25 0 2001 QR322 2001 Objects orbiting the Sun in Neptune's L4 or L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of or behind Neptune, respectively).
3,204 686 (25) 2,492 26 (15760) Albion 1992 Objects beyond Neptune in the main Kuiper Belt (generally, 41 to 47 AU from the Sun).

111 13 (13) 2 96 S/2000 (1998 WW31) 1 2000 Includes satellite of "hst5" observed in 2010.

5 5 (5) 0 0 Charon 1978 The IAU now considers Pluto a dwarf planet.

2 2 (2) 0 0 Namaka 2005 The IAU now considers Haumea a dwarf planet.

1 0 (0) 1 0 S/2015 (136472) 1 2015 The IAU now considers Makemake a dwarf planet.
687 134 (4) 547 6 (26181) 1996 GQ21 1996 Outer solar system objects beyond Saturn outside the main Kuiper Belt, generally those orbiting outside the orbit of Neptune. Sources differ on the division between Centaurs and scattered disk objects.

6 2 (2) 0 4 (no designation) 2006

1 1 (1) 0 0 Dysnomia 2005 The IAU now considers Eris a dwarf planet.
4 2 (2) 2 0 (90377) Sedna 2003 Objects with perihelia greater than 70 AU.

6,036 1 (6,541) 3,318 3,223 Comets with orbital periods over 200 years. See note below.

105 0 (105) 105 0 1885 Comets previously bound to the solar systems but now ejected (on ultimately hyperbolic orbits).

2 2 (2) 0 0 1I 'Oumuamua 2017 Objects in the solar system but originating outside the solar system.
permanent designation (those with names) provisional designation no official designation first one
discovered year
disc. notes

type of object	>total	permanent designation	(those with names)	provisional designation	no official designation	first one discovered	year disc.
type of object		star
planets
dwarf planets
--Mercury moons
asteroids, Atira
--Atira asteroid moons
--Venus moons
asteroids, Aten
--Aten asteroid moons
--Earth moons
asteroids, Earth Trojans
asteroids, Apollo
--Apollo asteroid moons
asteroids, Amor
--Amor asteroid moons
--Mars moons
asteroids, Mars Trojans
--Mars Trojan asteroid moons
asteroids, Mars crossers
--Mars crosser asteroid moons
asteroids, main belt
--main belt asteroid moons
--Ceres moons
comets, Jupiter family
--Jupiter moons
asteroids, Jupiter Trojans
--Jupiter Trojan asteroid moons
asteroids, other unusual
--Saturn moons
--Uranus moons
outer solar system
comets, short
outer solar system
--Centaur moons
--Neptune moons
outer solar system
outer solar system
--Kuiper belt object moons
--Pluto moons
--Haumea moons
--Makemake moons
outer solar system
--scattered disk object moons
--Eris moons
outer solar system
comets, long-period*
comets, ejected
interstellar objects
1	1	(1)	0	0	Sun
8	8	(8)	0	0	Earth		As currently defined by IAU.
5	5	(5)	0	0	(1) Ceres	1801	As currently defined by IAU.
0	0	(0)	0	0	(none)
28	8	(1)	20	0	(163693) Atira	2003	Asteroids with orbits entirely inside the Earth's orbit.
1	0	(0)	0	1	(no designation)	2017
0	0	(0)	0	0	(none)
2,289	255	(13)	2,034	0	(2062) Aten	1976	Asteroids with semimajor axes less than 1.0 AU.
8	1	(1)	0	7	(no designation)	1999
1	1	(1)	0	0	Moon
2	1	(0)	1	0	2010 TK7	2010	Asteroid orbiting the Sun in Earth's L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behing Earth, respectively). Does not include non-Trojan coorbital objects, such as 2002 AA29.
14,945	1,494	(71)	13,451	0	(1862) Apollo	1932	Asteroids (other than Atens and Earth trojans) crossing the Earth's orbit.
53	1	(1)	3	49	(no designation)	1997
11,985	1,347	(79)	10,638	0	(433) Eros	1898	Asteroids (other than Aitras, Atens, Apollos, or Earth trojans) with perihelion distances less than 1.3 AU.
29	0	(0)	0	29	(no designation)	1997
2	2	(2)	0	0	Phobos	1877
9	5	(1)	4	0	(5261) Eureka	1990	Asteroids orbiting the Sun in Mars' L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behind Mars, respectively).
1	0	(0)	0	1	(no designation)	2014
23,016	6,180	(270)	16,836	0	(132) Aethra	1873	Asteroids (other than Atiras, Atens, Apollos, or Mars trojans) crossing Mars' orbit.
31	0	(0)	1	30	(no designation)	2014
1,149,199	600,034	(22,439)	549,165	0	(2) Pallas	1802	Asteroids not counted elsewhere (some may cross the orbits of Mars or Jupiter). Excludes (1) Ceres which is declared a dwarf planet by the IAU.
232	12	(12)	14	206	Dacytl	1993
0	0	(0)	0	0	(none)
782	410	(782)	372	0			Comets with Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter less than 2 (generally, comets with periods less than 20 years).
80	72	(56)	8	0	Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto	1610	Does not include 57 objects without computed orbits.
11,936	6,295	(304)	5,641	0	(588) Achilles	1906	Asteroids orbiting the Sun in Jupiter's L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behind Jupiter, respectively).
6	3	(3)	0	3	Menoetius	2001
489	29	(5)	460	0	(944) Hidalgo	1920	Asteroids with aphelion distances greater than 7.5 AU, other than those in other categories.
86	66	(66)	17	3	Titan	1655	Includes 3 persistent objects without official designations in Saturn's rings but excludes other provisional objects which may be clumps of ring material (e.g., S/2004 S3 and S/2004 S4) and excludes 9 other objects detected in rings without official designations.
27	27	(27)	0	0	Titania and Oberon	1787
1	0	(0)	1	0	2011 QF99	2011	Objects orbiting the Sun in Uranus' L4 and L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of and behind Uranus, respectively).
118	22	(115)	95	1			Comets with orbital periods less than 200 years, other than Jupiter family members. Excludes 2 objects with dual designations counted among Centaurs (Chiron and Echeclus).
523	208	(20)	313	2	(2060) Chiron	1977	Outer solar system objects beyond Saturn outside the main Kuiper Belt, generally those crossing within the orbit of Neptune. Sources differ on the division between Centaurs and scattered disk objects.
2	2	(2)	0	0	Phorcys	2006
14	14	(14)	0	0	Triton	1846
32	7	(2)	25	0	2001 QR322	2001	Objects orbiting the Sun in Neptune's L4 or L5 positions (60 degrees ahead of or behind Neptune, respectively).
3,204	686	(25)	2,492	26	(15760) Albion	1992	Objects beyond Neptune in the main Kuiper Belt (generally, 41 to 47 AU from the Sun).
111	13	(13)	2	96	S/2000 (1998 WW31) 1	2000	Includes satellite of "hst5" observed in 2010.
5	5	(5)	0	0	Charon	1978	The IAU now considers Pluto a dwarf planet.
2	2	(2)	0	0	Namaka	2005	The IAU now considers Haumea a dwarf planet.
1	0	(0)	1	0	S/2015 (136472) 1	2015	The IAU now considers Makemake a dwarf planet.
687	134	(4)	547	6	(26181) 1996 GQ21	1996	Outer solar system objects beyond Saturn outside the main Kuiper Belt, generally those orbiting outside the orbit of Neptune. Sources differ on the division between Centaurs and scattered disk objects.
6	2	(2)	0	4	(no designation)	2006
1	1	(1)	0	0	Dysnomia	2005	The IAU now considers Eris a dwarf planet.
4	2	(2)	2	0	(90377) Sedna	2003	Objects with perihelia greater than 70 AU.
6,036	1	(6,541)	3,318	3,223			Comets with orbital periods over 200 years. See note below.
105	0	(105)	105	0		1885	Comets previously bound to the solar systems but now ejected (on ultimately hyperbolic orbits).
2	2	(2)	0	0	1I 'Oumuamua	2017	Objects in the solar system but originating outside the solar system.
permanent designation	(those with names)	provisional designation	no official designation	first one discovered	year disc.	notes