Planets, Shuttles, Seasons

2. An object that orbits another object; moons are natural examples.
3. When both hemispheres receive equal sunlight; day and night are balanced.
5. A small icy/rocky world that orbits the Sun; Pluto is the most famous.
6. Shuttle lost in 1986 shortly after liftoff; O‑ring failure; carried teacher Christa McAuliffe.
9. Sixth planet; known for the largest ring system.
11. Eighth planet; deep blue color; named for the Roman sea god.
13. NASA’s reusable spacecraft used to carry crew and cargo to space.
15. Closest planet to the Sun; smallest; named for the speedy Roman messenger.
18. A chunk of ice and rock; warms near the Sun and develops a glowing tail.
21. Earth’s curved path around the Sun.
22. The streak of light when a meteoroid burns up in a planet’s atmosphere.
23. A rocky, irregular body that orbits the Sun; many lie between Mars & Jupiter.

1. A 'rocky' planet type made mostly of solid rock.
4. A region between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are found.
7. One of the ice giants; rotates on its side.
8. Largest planet; famous for its Great Red Spot.
10. Similar size to Earth; thick carbon dioxide atmosphere makes it the hottest planet.
12. A large planet made mostly of gas with no true solid surface.
14. The red planet; iron in its soil gives it a red color; named after the Roman god of war.
15. A piece of space rock that survives the atmosphere and reaches the ground.
16. The oval shape of Earth’s orbit.
17. Shuttle lost in 2003 during reentry due to foam damage to a wing.
19. Only planet known to support life and have water in all three phases.
20. When Earth’s axis is most tilted; yields the year’s shortest or longest day.