Solar System Flashcards
0
Q
Astronomical Unit
A
A unit of distance equal to the average distance between Earth and the Sun, about 150,000,000 kilometers.
1
Q
Solar System
A
The system consisting of the sun, the planets, and other objects that revolve around it.
2
Q
Planet
A
An object that orbits a star, is large enough to be rounded by its own gravity, and has cleared the area of orbit.
3
Q
Dwarf Planet
A
An object that orbits the sun and is spherical, but hasn’t cleared the are of orbit.
4
Q
Asteroid
A
One of the rocky objects revolving around the sun that are too small and numerous to be considered planets.
5
Q
Comets
A
A loose collection of ice and dust that orbits the sun, typically in a long and narrow orbit.
6
Q
Planetesimal
A
One of the small asteroid-like bodies that formed the building blocks of the planets.
