Astrology

Question 1

What is a planet?

Answer 1

• an object in orbit around a star
• mass large enough for its on gravity to produce a round shape
• no fusion reactions are occuring (mass isnt large enough)
• it has cleared its own orbit of other objects

Question 2

What are planetary satellites?

Answer 2

• a body in orbit around a planet

* can be natural (eg the moon) or arteficial

Question 3

What are comets?

Answer 3

• small, irregular bodies made of ice, dust and small pieces of rock in orbit around teh sun
• 100m - 100km across
• come from the kuiper belt or Oort cloud
• orbits are highly eccetricl ellipses
• tail forms as thet come close to the sun (longest when closest)

Question 4

What are asteroids?

Answer 4

• smaller than planets and unevenly shaped
• no ice, made of rock
• orbit closer to the sun and in near circular orbits

Question 5

What are dwarf planets?

Answer 5

• don’t have a clear orbit (other objects in the way)

Question 6

What is a solar system?

Answer 6

• a star and a collection of bodies that orbit it

Question 7

What is a galaxy?

Answer 7

• a collection of stars, interstellar dust and gas