Astronomy Definitions

2. Small, rocky planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
3. Region between Mars and Jupiter filled with rocks and small objects
6. Small bits of rock or dust that float about in space.
7. Natural satellite that orbits a planet
11. Meteor that survives its fall through the atmosphere and lands on Earth
12. Distance light travels in one year (2 words)
13. Icy space objects that form glowing tails when they get close to the Sun
16. Large, round object that orbits a star, like Earth around the Sun
19. Robots that explore the surface of other planets or moons
21. Small, round space object that orbits the Sun but isn’t big enough to be a planet (2 Words)
24. Small bits of rock or dust that burn up as they fall through Earth’s atmosphere. They look like stars streaking across the sky (2 words)

1. Powerful space telescope that helps us see deep into the universe (2 words)
2. Space objects that orbit the Sun beyond Neptune, like Pluto and Eris (3 words)
4. Giant lab orbiting Earth where astronauts live and do experiments (3 words)
5. Zone beyond Neptune full of icy objects, including dwarf planets like Pluto (2 words)
8. Group of stars that form a pattern or picture in the sky
9. Everything that exists: space, time, stars, galaxies, and planets
10. Star near the end of its life that expands and becomes very large and cool (3 words)
14. Star at the centre of our Solar System that gives Earth light and heat
15. Giant shell of icy objects far, far away from the Sun, thought to be the source of many comets (2 Words)
17. Big gas planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
18. Huge collection of stars, planets, gas, and dust held together by gravity
20. Massive explosion that happens when a big star dies
22. Spot in space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape (2 words)
23. Galaxy that contains our Solar System (2 words)