Astronomy Basics

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Asteroid

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A rocky object that orbits the sun, usually found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

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Atmosphere

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The layer of gases surrounding a planet.

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Comet

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A small celestial body made of ice, dust, and gas that develops a bright cloud and sometimes a tail when it gets close to the sun.

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Elliptical Orbit

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An oval shape. Many orbits in space, like the paths of planets around the Sun, are elliptical.

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Exoplanet

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A planet that orbits a star outside our solar system.

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Gravity

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The force that pulls objects toward each other. Gravity keeps planets in orbit around the Sun.

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Habitable

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Can support life.

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Kuiper Belt

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A region beyond Neptune filled with many small, icy bodies, including dwarf planets like Pluto.

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Mass

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The amount of matter in an object.

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Meteor

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A small particle from space that burns up as it enters Earth's atmosphere, often seen as a shooting star.