Asteroid

An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Unlike planets, they are not spherical but often have irregular shapes.

Comet

A comet is a small, icy object that orbits the Sun. When it gets close to the Sun, it heats up and releases gas and dust, forming a glowing coma and often a tail.

Constellation

A constellation is a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern in the night sky, often named after mythological figures, animals, or objects.

Milky Way Galaxy

The Milky Way Galaxy is the spiral-shaped galaxy that contains our solar system. It is made up of billions of stars, along with gas and dust, all held together by gravity.

Moon

The Moon is a natural satellite that orbits Earth. It is a rocky, spherical object that reflects sunlight and affects Earth's tides.

Planet

A planet is a large, round object that orbits a star, like the Sun, and has cleared its orbit of other debris.

Revolution

Revolution is the movement of an object around another object in a circular or elliptical path. For example, Earth’s revolution is its orbit around the Sun.

Satellite

A satellite is an object that orbits around a planet or another larger object. It can be natural, like the Moon orbiting Earth, or artificial, like a man-made device used for communication or weather monitoring.

Solar System

The solar system is a collection of the Sun and all the objects that orbit around it, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.

Stars

Stars are huge balls of hot, glowing gases that produce light and heat through nuclear reactions in their cores. They are the basic building blocks of galaxies.

Sun

The Sun is a star at the center of our solar system. It provides the light and heat that make life possible on Earth.

Our Solar System is part of the Milky Way Galaxy

Stars and Constellations:

Stars are bright objects that shine with their own light.

Groups of stars sometimes form patterns called constellations, used for navigation in ancient times.

There are 88 constellations officially listed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Constellation examples: Orion (the hunter), Canis Major (dog), Taurus (bull).

Big Dipper and Little Dipper are part of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor; Pole Star (Dhruva tārā) helps locate the North.

Night Sky Watching:

Best viewed in areas with no light pollution.

Light pollution makes stars less visible.

Dark sky reserves help protect night skies from light pollution.

Tools like Sky Map and Stellarium can help identify stars and constellations.

Solar System:

The Sun is the closest star to Earth and is essential for life.

The Sun’s diameter is 100 times larger than Earth's; its distance is about 150 million km.

Planets revolve around the Sun. The eight planets, in order, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Pluto is a dwarf planet since 2006.

Indian Astronomy:

Nakṣhatra (star) names: Ārdrā (Betelgeuse), Kṛittikā (Pleiades), Rohiṇī (Aldebaran).

Planets named: Budha (Mercury), Śhukra (Venus), Mangala (Mars), Bṛihaspati (Jupiter), Śhani (Saturn).

Telescopes:

Help view distant stars, planets, and celestial objects.

Many schools, museums, and planetariums organize sky-watching events.

Natural Satellites:

Moons revolve around planets.

Earth’s Moon takes 27 days to revolve around Earth. India’s Chandrayaan missions study the Moon.

Other Solar System Objects:

Asteroids: Rocky objects found mostly between Mars and Jupiter.

Comets: Icy bodies from the outer solar system, forming tails when near the Sun.

Milky Way Galaxy:

Home galaxy of our Solar System.

Appears as a faint light band across the sky, visible from dark locations.

The Universe:

Contains countless galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

Search for life focuses on exoplanets but no evidence of life has been found yet.