Space Vocabulary

To spin on an axis

Example: Earth rotates and causes day and night

• revolution

• orbit

• rotation

• planet

When something moves around something in an unusual elliptical path.

Example: The moon revolves around the Earth

• Astronomy

• Gravity

• Orbit

• Revolution

The path of one object in space around another object

• Gravity

• Stars

• planet

• orbit

A large, round body that revolves around a star in a clear orbit.

• planet

• stars

• meteor

• comet

The study of objects in space and their properties.

• revolution

• solar system

• astronomy

• orbit

A force of attraction between two objects

• stars

• planet

• galaxy

• gravity

Huge balls of very hot, glowing gases in space that produce their own light and heat

• jovian planet

• asteroid

• meteor

• stars

A piece of rock or metal that burns and glows brightly in the sky as it falls from outer space into the Earth's atmosphere.

• meteor

• planet

• stars

• asteroid

A chunk of frozen gases, rock, and dust that revolves around the sun.

• comet

• meteor

• orbit

• asteroid

Four inner planets including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

• terrestrial planets

• jovian planets

• solar system

• galaxy