major planet

(Celestial Objects) a planet of the solar system, as opposed to an asteroid (minor planet)

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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Noun

major planet - (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in order of their proximity to the sun; viewed from the constellation Hercules, all the planets rotate around the sun in a counterclockwise direction

planet

astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole

biosphere - the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist

celestial body, heavenly body - natural objects visible in the sky

inferior planet - any of the planets whose orbit lies inside the earth's orbit

gas giant, Jovian planet - any of the four outermost planets in the solar system; much larger than Earth and gaseous in nature (like Jupiter)

daystar, morning star, Phosphorus, Lucifer - a planet (usually Venus) seen just before sunrise in the eastern sky

outer planet - (astronomy) a major planet whose orbit is outside the asteroid belt (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)

solar system - the sun with the celestial bodies that revolve around it in its gravitational field

superior planet - any of the planets whose orbit lies outside the earth's orbit

terrestrial planet - a planet having a compact rocky surface like the Earth's; the four innermost planets in the solar system

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References in periodicals archive

A dwarf planet like Ceres is defined as a solar system denizen that is smaller than a major planet, but larger than an asteroid--and astronomers have understood for decades that Ceres is the largest inhabitant of the Main Asteroid Belt.

There She Blows... Ice--and how!

Formation of the planets in more remote orbits it is unlikely, where the less often they exist, the more massive major planet [8].

On some general regularities of formation of the planetary systems

CALL 09050700463 77p per min R0I 1560 911 387 [euro]1.25 per min LEO Jul 24 - Aug 23 Major planet shifts often correspond with significant life changes, so when Saturn arrives in your home and family sector this Friday, it's likely that you will begin a two-year chapter bringing new or strengthened family or domestic foundations.

Lynne Ewart; Our brilliant astrologer takes a look at what the next Sevendays hold in store for you.. whatever your star sign

Herschel saw the sun, with its "openings, indentations, ridges, nodules and pores", as an object, naming its parts scientifically, thus setting himself against the historic view of the sun as an unknowable, unseeable, major planet.

Turner in his element; The great artist showed an astonishing understanding of nature, discovers Richard Edmonds

Neptune is the most distant major planet in our solar system.

New explorations in the solar system

Cobb was the first member of the Planet team in Denver providing strategic Microsoft and IT consulting services to major Planet clients in the region and in just over three years, has steadily increased Planet's Colorado consulting team and customer base.

Planet Technologies Names Clayton Cobb as Director, US Central Region

Rather than producing an encyclopedia the size of a major planet, Cartwright (science, U.

Literature and science; social impact and interaction

Grendler owns about 300 meteorites, but her newest acquisition is the first from a major planet.

Events may leave you starry-eyed

SUN-SCORCHED Mercury is the smallest major planet in our solar system.

Secrets from sun-scorched mercury: the planet's "extreme and dramatic orbital eccentricity, in combination with its rotation rate of three times in two of its years, causes some strange things to occur."