Stars & Galaxies Vocabulary

What is a group of very large planets that are composed mainly of gases?

• gas giants
• terrestrial planets
• inner solar system
• outer solar system

What contains the four planets farthest from the sun?

• gas giants
• terrestrial planets
• inner solar system
• outer solar system

What contains the four planet located closest to the sun?

• gas giants
• terrestrial planets
• inner solar system
• outer solar system

What is a unit of measurement based on the average distance between Earth and the sun?

• astronomical unit
• terrestrial planet
• inner solar system
• outer solar system

What is a group of planets whose surfaces are hard and rocky?

• gas giants
• terrestrial planets
• inner solar system
• outer solar system

What tool made possible the discovery of additional planets? 

• microscope
• telescope
• gyroscope
• spectograph

How do the inner planets differ from the outer planets?

• They are made of lighter elements.
• They do not have any moons.
• They are extremely large.
• They are spaced more closelyy together.

A common method for scientists to measure distances within our solar system is to use . . .

• the speed of sound.
• the English system.
• the speed of light.
• parallax angles.

What is the next planet moving outward from the sun after Saturn?

• Meptune
• Uranus
• Jupiter
• Mars

Which planet's orbit is closest to the sun?

• Earth 
• Venus
• Mercury
• Mars