The relative orbits of our sun and nine (er... make than eight planets, plus the former planet , Pluto) planets is shown here. There is an asteroid belt that lies midway between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Pluto, Ceres and Eris are known formally as minor planes because their sizes do not qualify them are full-fledged planets. Pluto was demoted from its planet status by the IAU in 2006. All of the planets lie within a few degrees of the "ecliptic plane," as can be seen in the image below. All planets except Uranus have their axis of spin oriented relatively perpendicular to the ecliptic plane. Uranus' spin axis lies roughly in its direction of its orbital path around the sun.