Astronomy Vocabulary

An instrument for viewing or detecting distant objects

• Space Probe

• Telescope

• Observatory

• Satellite

A group of stars that form a recognizable pattern in the sky

• Galaxy

• Constellation

• Stellar

• Star group

The path one object takes as it revolves around another object in space

• Orbit

• Revolution

• Track

• Solar System

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The distance light travels in one year

• Light Year

• Black hole

• Black Year

• Kilometer

A ball of gas in space that produces its own light and heat

• Planet

• Asteroid

• Moon

• Star

Any of the large celestial bodies that revolve around the Sun in the solar system

• Star

• Galaxy

• Asteroid

• Planet

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The Sun together with the group of planets and

other celestial bodies that revolve around it that are held by its gravitational attraction

• Solar System

• Galaxy

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The star at the center of the solar system that

supplies heat and light to Earth; its enormous gravity keeps the solar system in orbit

• Uranus

• Earth

• Sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The path of an object as it moves around another object in space

• orbit

• revolution

• rotation

• axis

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

A small rocky body orbiting the sun

• planet

• meteor

• nebula

• asteroid