Solar System

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is an object in the solar system made of ice and dust that, when close to the sun, develops a glowing coma and a tail.

Front

How long does it take for the moon to go from fully lit to fully lit again?

Back

It takes about 30 days for the moon to complete its phases and appear fully lit again.

Front

Why does a tree's shadow change throughout the day?

Back

A tree's shadow changes because as Earth rotates, the position of the sun in the sky changes.

Front

Why can't a map of constellations from Florida be used in the Southern Hemisphere?

Back

The stars on the map can only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere.

Front

What causes the sun to appear to rise and set each day?

Back

The sun appears to rise and set due to the spinning motion of Earth.

Front

What is the solar system?

Back

The solar system is a collection of celestial bodies, including the sun, planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, that are bound by gravity.

Front

What is Earth's rotation?

Back

Earth's rotation is the spinning of Earth on its axis, which takes about 24 hours to complete.

Front

What is a planet?

Back

A planet is a large celestial body that orbits a star, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other debris.

Front

What is an asteroid?

Back

An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What is a moon?

Back

A moon is a natural satellite that orbits a planet.