FEATURES OF THE UNIVERSE

Define the following terms, using scientific language that a year 10

student would understand:
Term

Definition

Galaxy

A group of millions or billions of stars, with gas and

dust, held together by gravitational attraction.

Star

Huge ball of gas held together by gravity. The

central core of a star is extremely hot and produces
energy. Some of this energy is released as visible
light, which makes the star glow.
The collection of eight planets and their moons in
orbit round the sun.

Solar System

Nebula

A dust and gas cloud formed in space that is a source

of stars. Sometimes used to refer to other galaxies,
when their stars appear indistinct.

Supernova

A star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness

because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most
of its mass.

Constellation

A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that

is traditionally named after its apparent form or
identified with a mythological figure.

Black Hole

A region of space having a gravitational field so

intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

Asteroids

A small rocky body orbiting the sun. Large numbers

of these, ranging enormously in size, are found
between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, though some
have more eccentric orbits.
A celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and
dust and, when near the sun, a tail of gas and dust
particles pointing away from the sun.

Comets