The Solar System Vocab

Force

• An influence that can change the motion of an object, often described by its magnitude and direction.

• A type of energy that is stored in an object due to its position.

• The rate at which an object changes its velocity over time.

• A measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Space Dust

• Tiny particles of matter floating in space, often remnants of comets or asteroids.

• Large rocks that orbit the sun and can collide with planets.

• Gaseous clouds that form stars and planets.

• Solid ice particles that are found in the outer solar system.

Exoplanet

• A planet that orbits a star outside the solar system.

• A type of star that is larger than the sun.

• A moon that orbits a planet in our solar system.

• A comet that travels through the asteroid belt.

Light Year

• A unit of time used to measure the speed of light.

• A unit of astronomical distance equivalent to the distance that light travels in one year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers.

• A measure of the brightness of stars.

• A unit of weight used in astronomy.

Coma

• a fuzzy cloud of gas and dust that surrounds a comet's nucleus

• a type of star that emits light

• a large planet in the solar system

• a region of space with no matter

Weight

• The force exerted on an object due to gravity, calculated as mass times the gravitational acceleration.

• The total mass of an object regardless of gravity.

• The measure of how much matter is in an object.

• The resistance of an object to changes in its state of motion.

Sun

• The star at the center of our solar system, providing light and heat to the planets orbiting it.

• A large planet known for its rings and many moons.

• A celestial body that orbits a planet and reflects light.

• A type of star that is much larger than our sun and is located in another galaxy.

Comet

• A celestial object composed of ice, dust, and rocky material, often with a visible coma and tail when near the Sun.

• A large star that has exploded and emits light and heat.

• A planet that orbits the Sun and has a solid surface.

• A type of asteroid that is primarily made of metal.

Black Hole

• A region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

• A celestial body that emits light and heat through nuclear fusion.

• A massive star that has exploded in a supernova.

• A region in space where time travel is possible.

Meteoroid

• A small rocky or metallic body in outer space, smaller than an asteroid.

• A large celestial body that orbits the sun.

• A fragment of a comet that has entered the Earth's atmosphere.

• A type of star that has exploded in a supernova.