Topic 4: Space Objects Flashcards

Front

planet

Back

An object that orbits the sun, has become rounded by its own gravity, and has cleared the area of its orbit.

Front

asteroid

Back

A small, mostly rocky or metallic body that orbits the sun in the inner solar system.

Front

meteor

Back

A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere in a streak of light.

Front

Kuiper belt

Back

A region beyond Neptune’s orbit extending 30 to 50 AU from the sun.

Front

comet

Back

A loose ball of ice and rock that usually has a long, narrow orbit around the sun.

Front

Oort cloud

Back

The most distant part of our solar system

Front

Solar system

Back

The sun, the planets, and a variety of other objects

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Sun

Back

An average-sized star, composed of helium and hydrogen, at the center of the solar system

Front

Orbit

Back

To travel in a curved path around something

Front

Astronomical unit

Back

A unit of distance equal to the mean distance from the sun to Earth, or about 150,000,000 km