The Solar System

Front

What is the Solar System?

Back

The Solar System is a collection of celestial bodies, including the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids, that are bound by gravity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Front

What is the role of the Sun in the Solar System?

Back

The Sun provides light and heat, and its gravity keeps the planets in orbit around it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Front

Which planet is closest to the Sun?

Back

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun.

Front

What are terrestrial planets?

Back

Terrestrial planets are rocky planets that are closer to the Sun, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Front

What are gas giants?

Back

Gas giants are large planets that are mostly made of gases, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is a chunk of ice and dust that has a bright head and a long narrow tail when it approaches the Sun.

Front

What is a moon?

Back

A moon is a natural satellite that orbits a planet or a dwarf planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is an asteroid?

Back

An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Front

What is a meteoroid?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space, smaller than an asteroid.

Front

What is the Kuiper Belt?

Back

The Kuiper Belt is a region of the Solar System beyond Neptune, filled with small icy bodies and dwarf planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3