Solar System and Objects

Front

Solar System Noun

---

[soh-ler sis-tuhm]

Back

Solar System

---

The collection of the sun, planets, their moons, and other smaller objects that orbit the sun.

---

Example: The image shows planets and the moon orbiting the sun, illustrating the solar system.

Front

Planet Noun

---

[plan-it]

Back

Planet

---

A large, round celestial body that orbits the sun and has cleared its orbital path of debris.

---

Example: The image shows Earth orbiting the sun, demonstrating how a planet moves in space.

Front

Sun Noun

---

[suhn]

Back

Sun

---

The star at the center of our solar system, a gaseous body that accounts for most of the solar system's mass.

---

Example: The Sun is a star that emits energy, shown by arrows pointing from the Sun to Earth.

Front

Orbit Noun

---

[or-bit]

Back

Orbit

---

The curved path that a celestial object takes around another object due to the force of gravity.

---

Example: Earth's orbit around the Sun shows the curved path due to gravity.

Front

Feature Noun

---

[fee-cher]

Back

Feature

---

A distinct trait or characteristic of an object, such as a planet's rings or a moon's craters.

---

Example: The image shows Mars' interior layers, a feature of the planet.

Front

Gravity Noun

---

[grav-i-tee]

Back

Gravity

---

The force of attraction between two objects that depends on their masses and the distance between them.

---

Example: An apple falling from a tree shows gravity pulling it to the ground.

Front

Year (Planetary) Noun

---

[yeer (plan-i-tair-ee)]

Back

Year (Planetary)

---

The amount of time it takes for a planet to complete one full orbit around the sun.

---

Example: The image shows Earth's orbit around the sun, demonstrating how a year is the time taken to complete one full orbit.

Front

Astronomical Unit (AU) Noun

---

[as-truh-nom-i-kuhl yoo-nit]

Back

Astronomical Unit (AU)

---

A unit of distance equal to the average distance from Earth to the sun, approximately 150 million kilometers.

---

Example: The image shows Earth's orbit around the Sun, illustrating the average distance known as an Astronomical Unit (AU).

Front

Star Noun

---

[stahr]

Back

Star

---

A large, gaseous celestial body that generates its own energy and light through nuclear fusion.

---

Example: The Sun is a star that emits energy and light, shown by arrows pointing from the Sun to Earth.

Front

Axis Noun

---

[ak-sis]

Back

Axis

---

An imaginary line through the center of a rotating object, around which the object spins.

---

Example: Earth's axis is shown as an imaginary line through the planet, explaining rotation and day-night cycle.