A collection of planets orbiting a star. Our solar system orbits the sun and contains 8 planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.

Distance across the center of a circle or sphere

Astronomical Unit (AU)

The average distance between the Earth and the sun. Earth is 1 AU from the sun (93 million miles)

Gases that surround a planet. Gases are held in by the gravitational pull of the planet.

The four small, dense rocky, planets that orbit closest to the sun.

The planet closest to the sun. It is the smallest planet (diameter is 1/3 the size of Earth’s) and it has no moons. Its temperature can be extremely hot or cold due to no atmosphere to hold in heat. (.4 AUs from the sun)

The second planet from the sun, It is the hottest planet because of its thick atmosphere. It is also called Earth’s Twin, since it is a similar size and density (same diameter as Earth’s). (.7 AUs from the sun)

The third planet from the sun. The only planet with liquid water. The only planet that has life that we know of. (1 AU from the sun).

The fourth planet from the sun, and it is the last terrestrial planet. It is red-colored due to iron in the soil. (diameter is 1/2 the size of Earth’s). It has two moons. (1.5 AUs from the sun).

Located between Mars and Jupiter. Thousands of small, irregularly shaped, rocky objects that orbit the sun

The four outer planets. Deep, massive, gas atmospheres; very large; many moons

The largest planet, it is the first of the gas giants and the fifth planet from the sun. (diameter is 12 times larger than Earth’s). It has over 60 moons and a giant red spot (storm) and faint rings. (5.2 AUS from the sun).

The sixth planet from the sun and a gas giant, this planet is known for its rings. It is the second largest planet. (diameter is 9 times larger than Earth’s). (9.5 AUs from the sun).

The seventh planet from the sun. This planet appears blue-green. It is tilted on its side and has rings. It is very far away from the sun so it has very low temperatures. (diameter is 4 times larger than Earth’s). (19.2 AUs from the sun).

The last planet, a gas giant that is greenish-blue in color and has faint rings. It is very cold and has high winds. (diameter is 4 times larger than Earth’s). (30.1 AUs from the sun).

Help

Options

focusNode

Didn't know it?
click below

Knew it?
click below

Don't Know

Remaining cards (0)

Know

retry

shuffle

restart

0:00

Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

Normal Size Small Size show me how

Solar System Vocab

Unit 1 Part 2 Vocab

Term	Definition
Solar System	A collection of planets orbiting a star. Our solar system orbits the sun and contains 8 planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.
Diameter	Distance across the center of a circle or sphere
Astronomical Unit (AU)	The average distance between the Earth and the sun. Earth is 1 AU from the sun (93 million miles)
atmosphere	Gases that surround a planet. Gases are held in by the gravitational pull of the planet.
Terrestrial Planets	The four small, dense rocky, planets that orbit closest to the sun.
Mercury	The planet closest to the sun. It is the smallest planet (diameter is 1/3 the size of Earth’s) and it has no moons. Its temperature can be extremely hot or cold due to no atmosphere to hold in heat. (.4 AUs from the sun)
Venus	The second planet from the sun, It is the hottest planet because of its thick atmosphere. It is also called Earth’s Twin, since it is a similar size and density (same diameter as Earth’s). (.7 AUs from the sun)
Earth	The third planet from the sun. The only planet with liquid water. The only planet that has life that we know of. (1 AU from the sun).
Mars	The fourth planet from the sun, and it is the last terrestrial planet. It is red-colored due to iron in the soil. (diameter is 1/2 the size of Earth’s). It has two moons. (1.5 AUs from the sun).
Asteroid Belt	Located between Mars and Jupiter. Thousands of small, irregularly shaped, rocky objects that orbit the sun
Gas Giants	The four outer planets. Deep, massive, gas atmospheres; very large; many moons
Jupiter	The largest planet, it is the first of the gas giants and the fifth planet from the sun. (diameter is 12 times larger than Earth’s). It has over 60 moons and a giant red spot (storm) and faint rings. (5.2 AUS from the sun).
Saturn	The sixth planet from the sun and a gas giant, this planet is known for its rings. It is the second largest planet. (diameter is 9 times larger than Earth’s). (9.5 AUs from the sun).
Uranus	The seventh planet from the sun. This planet appears blue-green. It is tilted on its side and has rings. It is very far away from the sun so it has very low temperatures. (diameter is 4 times larger than Earth’s). (19.2 AUs from the sun).
Neptune	The last planet, a gas giant that is greenish-blue in color and has faint rings. It is very cold and has high winds. (diameter is 4 times larger than Earth’s). (30.1 AUs from the sun).

Created by: user-1713485

Popular Earth Science sets

Mr. Holzshu's review of the layers of the Earth, plates, and boundaries.

Plants

Moon Phases

Local and Global Winds

Earth Science Vocabulary

structure of earth

Water Vocab

"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries: