Solar System

Science

A body of rock and metal that orbits the Sun

Asteroid

A body of rock and metal that orbits the Sun. Asteroids are small, rocky objects that travel around the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

The region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where many asteroids are found

Asteroid belt

The region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where many asteroids are found. Asteroid belt. The asteroid belt is a vast collection of rocky objects orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

The average distance between Earth and the Sun, about 150 million km, or 93 million miles

Astronomical unit

The average distance between Earth and the Sun, about 150 million km, or 93 million miles, is known as an astronomical unit. An astronomical unit AU is a standard measure used to describe distances in space.

The middle layer of the Sun's atmosphere

Chromosphere

The middle layer of the Sun's atmosphere. Chromosphere. The chromosphere is a layer of the Sun's atmosphere located above the surface, visible during solar eclipses, and it emits a reddish glow due to its hot gases.

The fuzzy head of a comet, made of ice and comet dust

Coma

The fuzzy head of a comet, made of ice and comet dust. Coma. The coma is the glowing cloud surrounding a comet's nucleus when it is close to the sun.

A body of ice, rock, and dust that orbits the Sun

Comet

A body of ice, rock, and dust that orbits the Sun. Comet. A comet is a small celestial body that develops a glowing tail when it approaches the Sun.

An ellipse is an oval shape, the orbit of planets are shaped like an ellipse

Ellipse

An ellipse is an oval shape, the orbit of planets are shaped like an ellipse. Ellipse. An ellipse is a stretched circle with two focal points, known as foci.

A large planet made up mostly of gases, like Jupiter or Saturn

Gas giant

A large planet made up mostly of gases, like Jupiter or Saturn. Gas giant. A gas giant is a massive planet composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.

A streak of light created when a meteoroid is heated by Earth’s atmosphere

Meteor

A streak of light created when a meteoroid is heated by Earths atmosphere. Meteor. A meteor is a bright trail in the sky formed when a space rock burns up entering Earth's atmosphere.

A meteoroid that lands on the surface of Earth, a moon, or a planet

Meteorite

A meteoroid that lands on the surface of Earth, a moon, or a planet. Meteorite. A meteorite is a space rock that survives its journey through the atmosphere and lands on the surface of a celestial body.

A small piece of rock or metal that orbits the Sun

Meteoroid

A small piece of rock or metal that orbits the Sun. Meteoroid. A meteoroid is a tiny object from space that moves around the Sun.

The combining of two nuclei to form a single nucleus, this releases energy

Nuclear fusion

The combining of two nuclei to form a single nucleus, this releases energy. Nuclear fusion. In simple terms, nuclear fusion is the process that powers the sun, where smaller atoms merge to form a larger one, releasing energy in the process.

The solid inner core of a comet

Nucleus solar system

The solid inner core of a comet. Nucleus. In science, a nucleus is the central part of an atom containing protons and neutrons.

The surface layer of the Sun that gives off light

Photosphere

The surface layer of the Sun that gives off light. Photosphere. The photosphere is the part of the Sun we see that emits the sunlight that reaches Earth.

A huge reddish loop of plasma that protrudes from the Sun’s surface

Prominence

A huge reddish loop of plasma that protrudes from the Suns surface. Prominence. In simple terms, a prominence is a large, bright feature extending outward from the Suns surface, usually in a loop shape, made of hot gases.

A flat, thin disk of ice and rock particles that orbit a planet, like Saturn

Ring

A flat, thin disk of ice and rock particles that orbit a planet, like Saturn. Rings are collections of small particles in space that circle around planets due to gravity.

An eruption of gas from the Sun's surface, that occurs when loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect

Solar flare

An eruption of gas from the Sun's surface, that occurs when loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect. Solar flare. It is a sudden, intense burst of radiation from the Sun's surface caused by a magnetic energy release.

A group of planets and other objects that revolve around a sun

Solar system

A group of planets and other objects that revolve around a sun. Solar system. A solar system is a collection of planets and other celestial bodies orbiting a star.

A spot on the Sun which appears darker because it is not as hot as other areas

Sunspot

A spot on the Sun which appears darker because it is not as hot as other areas. Sunspot. Sunspots are cooler areas on the Sun's surface caused by magnetic activity.

One of the four rocky planets of the inner solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth or Mars

Terrestrial planet

One of the four rocky planets of the inner solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth or Mars terrestrial planet. A terrestrial planet is a type of planet made mostly of rock and metal with a solid surface.