Identify the Object
Categories & Classification
Sizes & Distances
Observations & Understanding
Misconceptions
100
A natural object that orbits a planet and is sometimes called a satellite. What is it?
Moon (natural satellite)
100
Which specific category only includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars?
Inner Planets/Rocky Planets
100
Which planet is larger in size: Earth or Mars?
Earth
100
Observe the planet and name it:
Saturn
100
True or False: The Milky Way and the universe are the same thing.
False.
200
A small rocky body that orbits the Sun, often found in the belt between Mars and Jupiter. What is it?
Asteroid
200
Name two categories of small solar system objects besides planets and moons.
Asteroids and comets (also meteoroids)
200
True or false: Planets orbit the Sun at different distances; orbital distance affects the length of a planet’s year.
True
200
Observe this planet and name it:
Mars
200
True or False: The Solar System is at the center of the universe.
False
300
An object made mostly of ice and dust that sometimes develops a glowing head (coma) and tail when near the Sun is called what?
Comet
300
Which TWO of the following are NOT a comet? Europa, Ceres, or Halley?
Europa (moon) and Ceres (dwarf planet/asteroid-belt object)
300
If Planet X orbits farther from the Sun than Planet Y, which will have the longer orbital period (year)?
Planet X
300
Observe this planet and name it:
Uranus
300
True or False: Orbits are curved, usually elliptical paths.
True
400
You observe a streak of light caused by a small rock entering Earth's atmosphere. What is the in‑atmosphere name for this object?
Meteor
400
Which quality does NOT apply to asteroid classification: rocky/icy, spherical, irregular shape.
spherical
400
Describe one reason why comparing orbital distances is important for understanding conditions on those planets.
Distance affects solar energy (heat) received and thus the temperature of a planet, which influence climate and potential habitability.
400
What is the name of this image?
The Milky Way Galaxy
400
True or False: All planets are the same type — round rocky balls that are circular in shape.
False.
500
Given an object described as icy with a highly elliptical orbit: classify this object and state one distinguishing feature.
Comet that develops a tail near the Sun
500
What is the main difference between a dwarf planet and a meteoroid?
Dwarf planets are much larger and round whereas a meteoroid is much smaller and irregular shaped.
500
Describe one reason why comparing planet sizes is important for understanding conditions on those planets.
Size affects gravity and atmosphere retention (whether it can hold onto it's atmosphere or not).
500
What is the most important contribution of this image (a nebula)?
It creates matter that is put into space, thus creating all matter in space (including more stars an planets).
500
True or False: Gravity always pulls objects straight down (toward Earth’s center) so “down” is the same everywhere.
False