Astronomy Terms

These planets are mostly made out of hydrogen and helium.

• gas giant

• ice giant

• dwarf planets

• terrestrial planets

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The Moon is a(n) _________.

• dwarf planet

• natural satellite

• terrestrial planet

• asteroid

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What is true of all planets? Select ALL that apply.

• They have gravity

• They orbit the Sun

• They are round

accretion

• The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon

• the accumulation of particles (gas and dust) into a massive object by gravitationally attracting more, and more matter

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

• The conditions in the gases surrounding a planet including the make-up of gases, temperature, and thickness of the gases.

astronomical unit (AU)

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the sun to the center of galaxy

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the earth to the center of the moon.

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the earth to the center of the sun.

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the earth to the end of the solar system.

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comet

• A small body moving in the solar system that would become a meteor if it entered the earth's atmosphere

• A meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere and part of it reaches the ground.

• A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere; also known as a "shooting star."

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

heliocentric model

• A model of the Solar System in which helium is the center.

• A model of the Solar System in which the Earth is the center.

• A model of the Solar System in which the Sun is the center.

• A model of the Solar System in which the Moon is the center.

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orbit

• A sphere spinning on its axis

• A circular movement of an object around a center or an axis.

• The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon

• The amount by which an object's orbit around another body deviates from a perfect circle.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

star

• A type of astronomical object consisting of a rocky sphere that reflects light.

• A type of astronomical object consisting of a luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity. Example: Sun

• A type of astronomical object consisting of a gaseous sphere that absorbs light.

• A type of galaxy sized object.

What is the law of universal gravitation?

• The more mass an object has, the more gravitational attraction it has. The greater the distance between two objects, the less their gravitational attraction.

• Gravity pulled together a cloud of interstellar gas and dust (called a nebula). As the nebula spun, gravity condensed the gases into the center to form the Sun. Eventually, the gravity of smaller pieces of matter drew objects to them to form the planets.

• Gravity pulled together a cloud of interstellar gas and dust (called a nebula). As the nebula spun, gravity condensed the gases into the center to form the Sun. Eventually, the gravity of smaller pieces of matter drew objects to them to form the planets.

• It states that any two masses attract each other more when they are more massive (greater mass) and closer together (less distance).

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