Space Science

Question 1

Solar System

Answer 1

the sun and all the planets, asteroids,
moons, and other objects that revolve
around it

Question 2

Galaxy

Answer 2

a system of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravitational attraction

Question 3

Milky Way

Answer 3

the galaxy that contains our solar
system

Question 4

Constellation

Answer 4

a group of stars that forms a picture in the sky by connecting the stars

Question 5

Orbit

Answer 5

the path followed by an object revolving around another object, caused by gravity

Question 6

Diameter

Answer 6

the distance from one side of a sphere to the other side when passing directly through the center of the sphere

Question 7

Atmosphere

Answer 7

the layer of gases that surround a planet

Question 8

Gravity

Answer 8

a force of attraction that exists between two masses

Question 9

Mass

Answer 9

a measure of how much matter is in an object

Question 10

Weight

Answer 10

the force with which an object is pulled toward another object

Question 11

Asteroid

Answer 11

an irregularly shaped body in space that orbits our sun; is smaller than a planet; and is made of rock, iron, piles of dust and pebbles, or other materials

Question 12

Comet

Answer 12

a body in space made mostly of ice and rock

As a comet orbits close to the sun, it forms a very long “tail” consisting of dust and gas.

Question 13

Meteoroid

Answer 13

a small, irregularly shaped space rock, typically broken off from an asteroid or comet

Question 14

Meteor

Answer 14

a meteoroid that has entered Earth’s atmosphere and is being burned up

They are often called shooting stars.

Question 15

Meteorite

Answer 15

a meteoroid that makes it through Earth’s atmosphere without being burned up and hits Earth’s surface

Question 16

Astronomy

Answer 16

the scientific study of the universe and matter outside of Earth’s atmosphere