Space and Earth Science Terms

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Asteroid

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A large space rock that orbits the sun.

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Asteroid Belt

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An area between Mars and Jupiter where most of the asteroids in our solar system are found orbiting the sun.

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Atmosphere

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The mixture of gases around a planet. Earth's atmosphere allows us to have liquid water and protects us from the sun's rays and meteors.

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Axial Tilt

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The angle between a planet’s rotational axis and its orbital axis. It causes the seasons we experience.

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Axis

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An imaginary line that a body, such as a planet, rotates around. Earth's axis is tilted at an angle.

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Characteristic

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A special quality or feature that makes a person, place, or thing different from others.

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Comet

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A mountain-size chunk of ice and dust that orbits the sun.

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Diameter

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A straight line passing from one side of a circle or sphere to the other side through the center.

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Dwarf Planet

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A celestial body that orbits the sun, has enough mass to be nearly round, but has not cleared its orbit. Examples: Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea.

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Earth

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The third planet from the sun, known as an inner planet and a terrestrial planet.