Solar system Meaning, Definition & Usage
-
noun the sun with the celestial bodies that revolve around it in its gravitational field
WordNet
Definitions
(Astron.) , the sun, with the group of celestial bodies which, held by its attraction, revolve round it. The system comprises the major planets, with their satellites; the minor planets, or asteroids, and the comets; also, the meteorids, the matter that furnishes the zodiacal light, and the rings of Saturn. The satellites that revolve about the major planets are twenty-two in number, of which the Earth has one (seeMoon .), Mars two, Jupiter five, Saturn nine, Uranus four, and Neptune one. The asteroids, between Mars and Jupiter, thus far discovered (1900), number about five hundred, the first four of which were found near the beginning of the century, and are called Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta.The principal elements of the major planets, and of the comets seen at more than one perihelion passage, are exhibited in the following tables: I. Major Planets. Symbol. Name. Mean distance that of the Earth being unity. Period in days. Eccentricity. Inclination of orbit. Diameter in miles II. Periodic Comets. Name. Greatest distance from sun. Least distance from sun. Inclination of orbit. Perihelion passage. - ° &min; 54
- Encke's
- 3.31
- 4.10
- 0.342
- 12 54
- 1885.2
