Mars used to be blue, and its biggest volcano is 100 times larger than any on earth. Saturn's moon, Titan, boasts lakes which contain liquid methane, exactly as our planet did before life evolved. It is tempting to draw conclusions from these examples, but it is not that simple. We have the impression that the solar system is perfectly regular like a clock, but seen in a longer perspective, the planets and their satellites have exciting lives, full of events. In this accessible guide to our cosmic neighborhood, Paul Murdin offers intriguing perspective on our place in the universe.