Solar System

Planet

Celestial body that orbits a star, spherical shape due to its own gravity, and has cleared its orbit of other debris.

Dwarf Planet

A celestial body that orbits a star, is spherical in shape, but has not cleared its orbit of other debris, and is not a satellite.

Asteroid

A small rocky body that orbits the Sun or a star but and does not have the characteristics of a planet; primarily found in the asteroid belt

Comet

A small icy body with a nucleus of ice and dust and a tail of gas and ice

Meteoroid

A small rocky or metallic body in outer space, smaller than an asteroid, that can become a meteor when it enters Earth's atmosphere.

Meteor

A bright streak of light is created when a meteoroid burns up upon entering Earth's atmosphere; aka “shooting star”

Meteorite

A fragment of a meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the surface.