LEGO Technic 42254 Solar System Planets in Orbit: Official Images and January 2027 Release Details
LEGO officially revealed 42254 Solar System Planets in Orbit on 31 October 2026. The 572-piece Technic set goes on sale on 1 January 2027, priced at £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99.
Turn the hand crank and all eight planets orbit the Sun simultaneously, each at a different speed to reflect real orbital mechanics. To reset the model, you simply reposition the planets by hand. At 38 cm wide, it sits comfortably as a desk or shelf display rather than something that gets tidied away.
Each planet comes with its own fact panel covering diameter, orbital period, and distance from the Sun, so the educational angle is built into the model rather than bolted on. Saturn's rings use a new foil piece - a small detail, but the kind that counts on a set destined for permanent display.
This is the follow-up to 42179 Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit, stepping up from two celestial bodies to eight. That earlier set drew criticism for its bulky, exposed mechanism. The official images for 42254 suggest a considerably neater solution, with the gearing far less intrusive in the overall look.
LEGO has pitched it at ages 10 and up, and the LEGO Builder app supports the build with 3D digital instructions.
At roughly 16p per piece for an unlicensed Technic model, the raw value isn't exceptional. The price is presumably explained by the printed planets, the foil elements, and the several large gear rack elements driving the orbital motion. The stickers, which appear to be present, feel like a missed opportunity at this level of spend. Pluto doesn't feature, which is astronomically correct and will likely start a conversation or two.
If the mechanism delivers on what the images suggest, this could be a genuinely satisfying set - a working kinetic solar system earns permanent shelf space and gives visitors something to poke at. Worth waiting for a proper review before committing £90 to it, though.
Buy at LEGO.com: Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit