solar system object
(SSO, solar system body)
(the Sun, solar system planets, minor planets, comets, and moons)
Solar system objects (SSOs), i.e., astronomical objects within
the solar system include:
Meteoroids might also be meant to be included.
There are numerous terms for classes of minor planet (and in some
cases, also including some comets) based upon various criteria,
among them:
- dwarf planets (spherical but not as massive as planets): Pluto, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris (there may be more and some additional known objects are candidates).
- SSSB (small solar system bodies, a recently-coined term for any comet and any minor planet other than a dwarf planet).
- asteroids (used either strictly for minor planets within the asteroid belt or more loosely for any minor planet, but most often used for those within the inner solar system).
- near-Earth objects (NEOs, i.e., asteroids and comets with orbits that near or cross Earth's orbit).
- centaurs (minor planets and comets orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune).
- trans-Neptune objects (TNOs, i.e., comets and other SSSBs beyond Neptune).
- Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs, i.e., TNOs within the Kuiper Belt).
- scattered disk objects (SDOs, i.e., TNOs with substantial eccentricity and orbital inclination).
The Oort Cloud, further out than the Kuiper Belt consists of
long-period comets at the far end of their orbits, and presumably
more comets essentially floating out there but that can become
long-period comets from an encounter.
Identification of an object as a solar system object
(e.g., in surveys for transients)
generally consists of noting movement of the object across the
celestial sphere over successive observations.
(solar system,object type)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Solar_System_objects
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Solar_System_objects_by_size
https://ndspacegrant.und.edu/_files/docs/teacher-workshops/msu-2014-06/categories-of-solar-system-objects.pdf
https://www.schoolsobservatory.org/learn/astro/solsys
https://geol105.sitehost.iu.edu/1425chap2.htm
Referenced by pages:
aberration
amateur astronomy
astrograph
astrometry
binary companion
chondrite
comparator
cryogenic spectroscopy
dwarf planet
ecliptic coordinate system
Gaia
hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)
insolation
long-period comet
Mars crosser (MC)
minor planet
molecular handedness
natural astronomical telescopes
nutation
Origins Space Telescope (OST)
Oumuamua
Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS)
PESSTO
pingo
planetary science
planetesimal
planetoid
plate
radiometer
Rubin Observatory (VRO)
Sedna
SSSB
standard gravitational parameter (μ)
stratigraphy
substellar point
supercritical fluid (SCF)
synodic period
synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
timescale (t)
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
twinkling
water (H2O)
Index