Celestial Bodies

You might have come across the word heavenly body in your science textbook sometime or the
other. Have you ever wondered what are heavenly bodies? Celestial bodies or heavenly bodies
are objects in space such as the sun, moon, planets, and stars. They form a part of the vast
universe we live in and are usually very far from us. The glorious night sky is dotted with such
objects and when we observe them using a telescope, they reveal fascinating worlds of their own.

Hence, we can define heavenly bodies as,

A planet, moon, star or other natural objects in the space

In this article, let us discuss various heavenly body names and their meaning.

Table of Contents

 Classification of Celestial Bodies

 Stars

 Planets

 Satellites

 Comets

 Asteroids

 Meteors and Meteorites

 Galaxies

 Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Classification of Celestial Bodies

Stars
Stars are giant balls of hot gases that can produce their own light. Stars give out energy by
converting Hydrogen gas into Helium in their cores. Stars are gigantic in size and have an
immense gravitational attraction. The sun is a medium-sized star that gives us energy and makes
life possible on earth.
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Planets
Planets are large (almost) spherical objects that revolve around the sun. Planets move in fixed
orbits around the sun. There are 8 planets in our solar system. Planets may be made of rocks,
metals and gases like hydrogen, nitrogen and methane. The earth is also a planet and is the only
known place in the universe which supports life. Planets that revolve around other stars are
called exoplanets.

Satellites
Satellites are objects that revolve around planets. They form the essential part of the celestial
bodies. These may be of natural origin or sent by humans. The moon is a natural satellite of the
earth and revolves around it because it is bound by the Earth’s gravitational pull. Man has also
placed artificial or man-made satellites around the earth and other planets to study them and for
communication purposes.

Comets
These are small chunks of ice and rock that come from the outer edge of the solar system. When
its orbit brings it closer to the sun, the ice on them vaporizes, creating a beautiful tail behind
them.

Asteroids
These are small irregularly shaped rocks made up of metal or minerals that orbit the sun. Most of
them are found between Mars and Jupiter in an area known as the asteroid belt.

Meteors and meteorites

These are objects from space that enter our atmosphere as they are pulled by the earth’s gravity.
Meteors usually are small and burn up in the atmosphere as they enter the earth. This creates
streaks in the sky as though a star has fallen. They are commonly called shooting stars. If a
meteor is large enough it can reach the ground and create a crater. Such objects are called
meteorites.

Galaxies
Galaxies are large groups of stars held together by gravity. The sun and the solar system are a
part of a galaxy known as the Milky Way. Other galaxies are usually so far away that they look
like stars in the night sky. The Andromeda galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud are galaxies
that can be seen with the naked eye on a clear night.

The next time you go out to wonder at the night sky, try to identify these objects. If you can get a
star chart, use it to find the different celestial objects mentioned in the night sky.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1

What do we mean by celestial bodies?

Celestial bodies or heavenly bodies refer to the planets, stars, moons and all the other natural objects
present in space.

Q2

How many types of celestial bodies are present?

Celestial bodies or heavenly bodies include:
1) Planets
2) Stars
3) Satellites
4) Comets
5) Asteroids
6) Meteors and Meteorites
7) Galaxies

Q3

Where are most of the asteroids found?

Most of the asteroids are found in the asteroid belt which is a region between Mars and Jupiter.

Q4

What are comets?

Comets are small chunks of ice and rock that come from the outer edge of the solar system. When its
orbit brings it closer to the sun, the ice on them vaporizes, creating a beautiful tail behind them.
Halley’s comet is one of the most well-known comets which is visible to the naked eye from the earth
every 75-76 years.

Q5

Which galaxy are we a part of?

The sun and our solar system are a part of the Milkyway galaxy.

Q6

What is the one major difference between planets and stars?

Unlike planets, stars produce their own source of light. Planets just reflect the light coming from another
star like the sun.

To know more about solarsystem, stay tuned with BYJU’S – The learning app!

Test your knowledge on Celestial bodies

 Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few
MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!

Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button

Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

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