CBSE Class 8 Science Revision Notes Chapter 17

In addition to planets, there are numerous additional celestial bodies that orbit the sun. The list is as follows:

• Asteroids: Asteroids are small objects that orbit the Sun and are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. These asteroids can only be seen with large telescopes.
• Comets: Comets are bodies that have a small head and a tail. As these comets approach the sun, their tails continue to grow. The comet’s tail is either opposite or away from the sun.
• Meteors: Occasionally, small objects enter the Earth’s atmosphere. These are also known as meteors or shooting stars.

A constellation is a collection of stars that has a recognisable shape. Common constellations include the following:

• Ursa Major- it can be visible during the summer. The Big Dipper, Saptarishi, and the Great Bear are other names for it. This constellation contains seven prominent stars. It appears to be a large ladle.
• Orion- During the winter, this constellation can be seen in the late evenings. Hunter is another name for this constellation. This constellation contains approximately 7-8 bright stars. Three stars form the hunter’s belt, and the other four stars form the quadrilateral.

Each distinct solar system is made up of the Sun and the celestial planets that orbit it. The solar system includes meteors, asteroids, and comets. These heavenly bodies rotate around the Sun due to their gravitational attraction to it. There are eight planets that orbit the centre Sun in our solar system.

Stars are celestial objects that emit light of their own. The sun is a star as well. These stars are frequently arranged in the shape of constellations such as Orion, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, and others. It is worth noting that all the stars appear to revolve around the pole star. Furthermore, Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is located near the Orion constellation.

The Sun generates its own light and gases through the fusion process. This is why it is referred to as a star. The Sun is the central point of any solar system, around which planets revolve. In our solar system, the Sun is nearly 150 million kilometres away from the Earth. Alpha Centauri is the next closest star. It is approximately 4.37 lightyears away from Earth.

Class 8 Chapter 17 Science is concerned with space and the various stars that make up the solar system. Luminous and non-luminous objects, planets, moon phases, the rotation of the earth along its axis and its revolution around the sun, and the formation of various constellations are all discussed.

Other than planets, the solar system includes the following objects:

Stars: Stars are celestial bodies composed of gases; they are enormous in size and have extremely high temperatures.

Asteroid: An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the sun.