Our Solar System

Science

asteroid

a body of rock and metal that orbits the Sun

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axis

the imaginary line around which Earth rotates, it runs through Earth from pole to pole

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comet

a body of ice, rock, and dust that orbits the Sun

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constellation

a pattern or shape formed by a group of stars

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crater

a large pit on Earth or any object in space, created by an impact from a smaller object

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galaxy

a massive system of stars, gases, and dust held together by gravity

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gas giant

a large planet made up mostly of gases, like Jupiter or Saturn

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lunar eclipse

occurs when Earth’s shadow falls on the moon

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moon

a natural body that revolves around a planet

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moon phase

changes in the shape of the moon as seen from Earth

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orbit

the path of one body around another, like Earth’s orbit around the Sun

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planet

a large body that revolves around the Sun or star

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revolution

the motion of one body around another, like the Earth around the Sun

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rotation

the turning of a planet on its axis

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solar eclipse

occurs when the moon’s shadow falls on Earth

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solar system

a group of planets and other objects that revolve around a sun

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space probe

a spacecraft that carries scientific instruments, but no human crew

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star

a huge ball of very hot gases, like the Sun

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sun

a huge ball of very hot gases at the center of our solar system, it is a star

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telescope

a device that makes distant objects appear closer

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universe

everything that exists, including the stars, planets, and energy

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