8.8A : Level 2 Vocabulary

Front

What is a ball of gas that gives off heat and light?

Back

A star is a massive ball of gas, primarily hydrogen and helium, that undergoes nuclear fusion to emit heat and light.

Front

What do we call a collection of planets, moons, and asteroids in orbit around a star?

Back

A solar system is a gravitationally bound system that includes a star and all the celestial bodies that orbit it, including planets, moons, and asteroids.

Front

What term describes the collection of all known things in space?

Back

The universe encompasses all of space, time, matter, and energy, including galaxies, stars, planets, and all forms of matter and radiation.

Front

What is a group of stars held together by gravity called?

Back

A galaxy is a vast collection of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, bound together by gravity.

Front

What is a rocky body in orbit around a planet known as?

Back

A moon, or natural satellite, is a celestial body that orbits a planet.

Front

What is the closest star to Earth?

Back

The closest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri, located about 4.24 light-years away.

Front

What is the largest planet in our solar system?

Back

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, known for its Great Red Spot and many moons.

Front

What is the term for the path an object takes as it moves around another object in space?

Back

An orbit is the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object around a point in space, typically a star or planet.

Front

What is the name of our galaxy?

Back

The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our solar system.

Front

What is the difference between a planet and a star?

Back

A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star and does not produce its own light, while a star generates light and heat through nuclear fusion.