Solar System Vocab

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Planet

Back

Must orbit a star, be big enough gravity to become spherical, and big enough to clear other objects out of its orbit.

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Astronomical Unit

Back

The distance between Earth and the Sun

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Asteroids

Back

Large pieces of rocky, metallic material that is left over from the formation of planets

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Meteoroids

Back

Smaller asteroids

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Meteor

Back

When a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere and begins to burn up

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Meteorite

Back

If a meteor hits the ground, it is called a meteorite.

Front

Kuiper Belt

Back

Region beyond our solar system that contains comets.

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Comets

Back

Made of ice and dust, orbit in elliptical paths.

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Oort Cloud

Back

Far-away region of the solar system that is shaped like a sphere, surrounding the whole solar system like a bubble.

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Prograde

Back

When a planet rotates in the same direction it is revolving around the sun. Sun rises E - W.