Mark Schuler (American, B. 1951) "Beyond the Solar System" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This artwork was originally published on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 45c First Probe Beyond the Solar System stamp issued November 24, 1989. The Sun is the central body in our solar system and one of about 100 billion stars that comprise our galaxy. Revolving around the Sun in ascending order of distance are nine planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The Moon revolves around the Earth. Comets, meteors and meteorites also make up the solar system. The planet closest to the Sun, Mercury, is 36 million miles away; the farthest from the Sun is Pluto, 3.6 billion miles away. The Earth is estimated to be about 4.7 billion years old and present evidence suggests the planets were all formed at about the same time -- though the Sun is almost certainly older. Although many theories have been advanced, we do not yet fully understand how and when the solar system came to be. This spectacular painting shows the solar system in all its vast glory. Image Size: 12 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 20.25 in. Unframed. (B12220)