earth's place in the universe
From smallest to largest, we fit into the universe as follows:
Earth - Solar System - Galaxy - Universe
Earth - Solar System - Galaxy - Universe
Planetary objects
NATURAL SATELLITES-natural objects that orbit another object like the Sun or a planet.
Moons- mostly rocky bodies covered in craters orbiting another object. *Mercury and Venus are the only planets that do not have moons.
Comets- made up of ice, gas, and dust. They have long, narrow, elliptical orbits around the Sun. Tail emerges as comet gets closer to the Sun. The tail will ALWAYS point away from the Sun because of solar wind.
Planets are also considered natural satellites because they orbit the Sun.
ASTEROIDS
Rocky bodies that orbit between Mars and Jupiter and vary greatly in size. Some asteroids have orbits that cross Earth's orbit.
METEOROIDS
Small chunks of rock that move about in the solar system. If a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere, it results in a different term:
If a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere and burns up as a steak of light, it is called a meteor.
If a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere and strikes the surface of that planet, it is called a meteorite.
Moons- mostly rocky bodies covered in craters orbiting another object. *Mercury and Venus are the only planets that do not have moons.
Comets- made up of ice, gas, and dust. They have long, narrow, elliptical orbits around the Sun. Tail emerges as comet gets closer to the Sun. The tail will ALWAYS point away from the Sun because of solar wind.
Planets are also considered natural satellites because they orbit the Sun.
ASTEROIDS
Rocky bodies that orbit between Mars and Jupiter and vary greatly in size. Some asteroids have orbits that cross Earth's orbit.
METEOROIDS
Small chunks of rock that move about in the solar system. If a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere, it results in a different term:
If a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere and burns up as a steak of light, it is called a meteor.
If a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere and strikes the surface of that planet, it is called a meteorite.