Vocab Solar System Part 1 MLL

parallax

• the apparent change in position of an object due to the change in position of the observer

• the optical illusion of an object moving when viewed from different angles

• the phenomenon where light bends when passing through different mediums

• the effect of gravity on the trajectory of a moving object

nebula (pl. nebulae)

• a cloud of interstellar gas and dust

• a type of star

• a planet in formation

• a black hole

Dwarf planet

• a large round object that has not cleared its orbit of debris; Pluto

• a small rocky body that orbits the sun

• a celestial object that is smaller than a planet but larger than an asteroid

• a large gas giant with rings

terrestrial planets

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

• Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

• Venus, Earth, Mars, Pluto

Jovian planet

• Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

• Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake

• Sun, Moon, Earth, Mars

1 Astronomical Unit (AU)

• The distance between Earth and the Sun

• The distance between the Earth and the Moon

• The distance between Mars and Jupiter

• The distance light travels in one year

Planetesimal

• the smaller beginnings of planet

• a type of asteroid

• a large gas giant

• a moon of a planet

planet

• a large round object that has cleared its orbit of debris

• a small rocky body that orbits a star

• a massive gas giant with no solid surface

• a celestial object that emits its own light

asteroid

• small rocks that orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter

• large celestial bodies that orbit the Earth

• frozen gases that form comets

• planets that are smaller than Earth

Kuiper Belt

• Area beyond Neptune

• Region within the asteroid belt

• Zone of gas giants

• Part of the Oort Cloud