Pearson Solutions
Close windowBack to Pearson
From Information Please Back to Fact Monster Home Page
Search
Encyclopedia

orbit

orbit, in astronomy, path in space described by a body revolving about a second body where the motion of the orbiting bodies is dominated by their mutual gravitational attraction. Within the solar system, planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets orbit the sun and satellites orbit the planets and other bodies.

Sections in this article:

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

More on orbit from Fact Monster:

  • molecular orbital theory - molecular orbital theory molecular orbital theory, detailed explanation of how electrons are ...
  • orbit: Planetary Orbits - Planetary Orbits From earliest times, astronomers assumed that the orbits in which the planets ...
  • orbit: Nonplanetary Orbits - Nonplanetary Orbits The laws of planetary orbits also apply to the orbits of comets, natural ...
  • Comets - Comets Comets, according to the noted astronomer Fred L. Whipple (1906–2004), are enormous ...
  • Formation of the Solar System - Formation of the Solar System Our solar system consists of one star (the Sun), eight planets and ...

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Astronomy: General
Link to Fact Monster | Add Fact Monster search to your site | Awards and Press
Contact Fact Monster | Advertise with Fact Monster | Rights | Privacy | Terms of Use
Brought to you by: Information Please
© 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster