solar system

1. a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravita tional attraction.
3. a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a ‘tail’ of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun
4. a conventional or stylized representation of a star, typically having five or more points.
5. the natural satellite of the earth, visible (chiefly at night) by reflected light from the sun.
7. a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit round a star.
9. an artificial body placed in orbit around the earth or moon or another planet in order to collect information or for communication.
10. a piece of rock or metal that has fallen to the earth's surface from outer space as a meteor.
11. a small rocky body orbiting the sun. Large numbers of these, ranging enormously in size, are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, though some have more eccentric orbits.

2. a long distance or great amount.
4. a spot or patch that appears from time to time on the sun's surface, appearing dark by contrast with its surroundings.
6. the curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft round a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.
8. a small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere, becoming incandescent as a result of friction and appearing as a streak of light.