Astronomy Basics

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Galaxy

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A group of billions of stars, objects orbiting those stars, gas, and dust.

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Star

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A large sphere in space that is made of hot gas and produces its own light.

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Solar System

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A system of planets and other bodies that orbit a star.

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Planet

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A large body in space that orbits a star and does not produce its own light.

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Moon

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A natural object that orbits a planet.

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Asteroid

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A rocky or metallic object that orbits the sun and is much smaller than a planet.

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Comet

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An object made of rock, ice, dust, and gas that orbits the sun.

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Rotation

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The spinning of an object around its axis - rotating.

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Revolution

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The movement of an object around another object - orbiting.

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Orbit

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The path of an object in space around another object.