Astronomy: The Solar System vocab – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
planet
answer
an object that orbits the Sun, has a nearly spherical shape, and has a mass larger than the total mass of all other objects whose orbits are close by
question
orbit
answer
the path an object follows as it moves around another object
question
Mercury
answer
1st planet from the Sun; smallest planet in the solar system
question
Venus
answer
2nd planet from the Sun; about the same size as Earth
question
Earth
answer
3rd planet from the Sun; the only planet that currently supports life
question
Mars
answer
4th planet from the Sun; half the size of Earth; contains the largest mountain in the Solar System, Olympus Mons
question
Jupiter
answer
5th planet from the Sun; largest planet in the solar system
question
Saturn
answer
6th planet from the Sun; less dense than water; contains the largest ring system in th solar system made of seven bands and many more narrower ringlets
question
Uranus
answer
7th planet from the Sun; contains a system of narrow, dark rings
question
Neptune
answer
8th planet from the Sun; similar atmosphere to Uranus; contains small, faint rings
question
terrestrial planets
answer
the planets closest to the Sun; made of rock and metal; have solid outer layers
question
gaseous planets
answer
the planets furthest from the Sun; made of gases like Hydrogen and Helium; have gaseous outer layers and liquid inner layers
question
Pluto
answer
former 9th planet in the solar system; declassified to a dwarf planet in 2006
question
dwarf (exo) planet
answer
an object that orbits the Sun, has enough mass and gravity to form a sphere, and has objects similar in mass orbiting near it or crossing its orbital path (hasn't cleared out its neighborhood)
question
asteroid
answer
a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun
question
comet
answer
a small, rocky, icy object that orbits the Sun
question
meteroid
answer
small, rocky particle that moves through space
question
meteor
answer
a streak of light in Earth's atmosphere made by a glowing meteoroid
question
meteorite
answer
a meteoroid that strikes a planet or moon
question
exoplanet
answer
a planet that orbits a star outside our solar system
