Cosmology Vocab Flashcards

Front

Jovian

Back

Refers to the gas giant planets in our solar system, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Front

Terrestrial

Back

Refers to the rocky planets in our solar system, such as Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Front

Comet

Back

A celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust. When near the sun, it has a visible atmosphere or coma and sometimes a tail.

Front

Meteor

Back

A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere, and burns as a result of friction and appearing as a streak of light.

Front

Meteoroid

Back

A small particle from a comet or asteroid orbiting the sun.

Front

Meteorite

Back

A meteoroid that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere and lands on the earth's surface.

Front

Asteroid

Back

A small rocky body orbiting the sun, found mainly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Front

Dwarf planet

Back

A celestial body resembling a small planet but lacking certain technical criteria that are required for it to be classed as such.

Front

Nuclear fusion

Back

A nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy.

Front

Nebula

Back

A cloud of dust and gas in which stars can form.