Lesson 4.2 Flashcards

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Astronomical Unit (AU)

Back

The average distance from Earth to the Sun—about 150 million km.

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Dwarf Planet

Back

An object that orbits a star and is nearly spherical in shape but shares its orbital path with other objects of similar size but also isn’t classified as a satellite.

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Moon

Back

A natural satellite of a planet.

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Meteor

Back

A meteoroid that has entered Earth’s atmosphere and produces a streak of light.

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Asteroid

Back

A small, rocky object that orbits the Sun.

Front

Comet

Back

A small, rocky, icy object that orbits the Sun.

Front

Kuiper Belt

Back

A band of small celestial bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Front

Oort Cloud

Back

A spherical shell of celestial bodies believed to surround the Sun far beyond the orbits of the outermost planets.

Front

Satellite

Back

An object that orbits a larger object in space