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Our Solar System

Science

Our Solar System Chapter Video

Our Solar System Chapter Video

asteroid

a body of rock and metal that orbits the Sun
asteroid Simple Definition

astronomical unit

the average distance between Earth and the Sun, about 150 million km, or 93 million miles
astronomical unit Simple Definition

axis

the imaginary line around which Earth rotates, it runs through Earth from pole to pole
axis Simple Definition

comet

a body of ice, rock, and dust that orbits the Sun
comet Simple Definition

constellation

a pattern or shape formed by a group of stars
constellation Simple Definition

corona

the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere
corona Simple Definition

eclipse

an event where one object in space passes through the shadow of another object
eclipse Simple Definition

equinox

the two days a year when the Sun is directly over the equator, making day and night equal
equinox Simple Definition

galaxy

a massive system of stars, gases, and dust held together by gravity
galaxy Simple Definition

gas giant

a large planet made up mostly of gases, like Jupiter or Saturn
gas giant Simple Definition

meteor

a streak of light created when a meteoroid is heated by Earth’s atmosphere
meteor Simple Definition

meteorite

a meteoroid that lands on the surface of Earth, a moon, or a planet
meteorite Simple Definition

moon phase

changes in the shape of the moon as seen from Earth
moon phase Simple Definition

orbit

the path of one body around another, like Earth’s orbit around the Sun
orbit Simple Definition

penumbra

a region of lighter shadow around the darkest part of a shadow
penumbra Simple Definition

revolution

the motion of one body around another, like the Earth around the Sun
revolution Simple Definition

solar system

a group of planets and other objects that revolve around a sun
solar system Simple Definition

solstice

the twice yearly event when the Sun reaches its greatest distance North or South of the equator
solstice Simple Definition

sunspot

a spot on the Sun which appears darker because it is not as hot as other areas
sunspot Simple Definition

terrestrial planet

one of the four rocky planets of the inner solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth or Mars
terrestrial planet Simple Definition

umbra

the darkest part of a shadow
umbra Simple Definition

universe

everything that exists, including the stars, planets, and energy
universe Simple Definition

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