SOLAR SYSTEM Grade 6
Lunar
in relationship to the moon
Solar
in relationship to the sun
Mars
is the fourth planet from the sun ; the red planet because iron minerals in the Martian soil oxidize, or rust.
Venus
is the second closest planet to the sun; similar in structure and size to Earth; thick, toxic atmosphere of carbon dioxide and nitrogen and clouds of sulfuric acid.
Meteor
little chunks of rock and debris in space called meteoroids that shoot through the atmosphere.
Solar System
the collection of planets and moons, plus smaller bodies, in orbit around the Sun.
light year
the distance light travels in one year; about six trillion miles.
Pluto
the dwarf planet; small, round and orbits the Sun.
Neptune
the eighth planet from the sun; last of the hydrogen and helium gas giants;sister ice giant to Uranus.
Jupiter
the fifth planet from the sun; the largest planet; has dozens of moons and an enormous magnetic field.
Gravity
the force that holds the objects in their position in space
Uranus
the seventh planet from the sun; only ice giant planet with an equator at nearly right angles to its orbit.
Saturn
the sixth planet from the sun; a gas-giant planet and without solid surface; atmosphere is mostly of hydrogen and helium.
Mercury
the smallest planet in our solar system; the closest planet to the sun.
Sun
the star that is the central body of the Solar System
Asteroid Belt
a large band of rocky, airless worlds that orbit our sun.
star
a self-illuminated gaseous body of great size that produces its own energy by nuclear fusion.
Moon
a sphere that orbits the Earth and reflects the light from the Sun.
Universe
all heavenly bodies and space
Earth
our home planet; only planet in our solar system known to harbor life - life.
