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The Solar System
26 Vocabulary words regarding the Solar System
26
Science
9th Grade
08/24/2009

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Term
Nebular Hypothesis
Definition
Most widely accepted model explaining the formation and evolution of the Solar System
Term
Geocentric Model
Definition
Model stating that the Earth is the center of the Solar System
Term
Heliocentric Model
Definition
Model stating that the Sun is the center of the Solar System with the other planets revolving around it
Term
Nebula
Definition
A cloud of gas and/or dust in space
Term
Solar System
Definition
The Sun and the planets that orbit it make up this system
Term
Milky Way
Definition
The galaxy containing our Solar System
Term
Planet
Definition
A celestial body larger than an asteroid or comet
Term
Terrestrial Planet
Definition
Any of the Earth-like planets including Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Earth.
Term
Jovian Planet
Definition
The Jupiter-like planets including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets have relatively low densities and are huge gas giants.
Term
Orbit
Definition
The path of a celestial body or satellite as it revolves around another body
Term
Ellipse
Definition
An oval
Term
Revolution
Definition
The motion of one body about another, as Earth about the sun
Term
Rotation
Definition
The spinning of a body about its axis such as Earth
Term
Axis
Definition
The North and South poles of a planet
Term
Period
Definition
A basic unit of the geologic time scale that is a subdivision of an era
Term
Astronomical Unit
Definition
Average distance from Earth to the sun measured at 150 million kilometers or 1.5 X 108 kilometers
Term
Precession
Definition
A slow motion of Earth's axis that traces out a cone over a period of 26,000 years
Term
Apogee
Definition
The point where the moon is farthest from Earth
Term
Aphelion
Definition
The place in the orbit of a planet where the planet is farthest from the Sun
Term
Perigee
Definition
The point at which the moon is closest to the Earth
Term
Perihelion
Definition
The point in the orbit of a planet where it is closest to the Sun
Term
Asteroid
Definition
A small, rocky body, which can range in sizes that usually orbit between Mars and Jupiter
Term
Meteor
Definition
The luminous phenomenon observed when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up. Also known as a "shooting star"
Term
Comet
Definition
A small body of rocky and metallic pieces held together by frozen gases. Usually revolve around the sun in an elongated orbit
Term
Geocentric
Definition
Describes the concept of an Earth-centered universe
Term
Heliocentric
Definition
Describes the view that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System
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