Need another word for Minor Planet? Use these synonyms of Minor Planet from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
asteroid
planetoid
celestial body
space object
comet
meteoroid
small body
dwarf planet
Kuiper belt object
trans-Neptunian object
icy body
rocky body
iron body
stony body
planetary object
solar system object
heavenly body
extraterrestrial body
cosmic body
space rock
minor body
miniature planet
tiny planet
small planet
planetary fragment
celestial fragment
space fragment
asteroidal object
cometary object
meteoritic object
planetary entity
Meaning of Minor Planet
A minor planet refers to a celestial body that is in orbit around the Sun, but is not large enough to be classified as a major planet.
Definitions
- A natural celestial object, such as an asteroid or dwarf planet, that orbits the Sun and is smaller than the major planets.
- A celestial body that is in orbit around the Sun, but has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, meaning it is not a dominant gravitational force in its orbit.
Etymology of Minor Planet
The term "minor planet" originated in the 19th century, when astronomers began to discover smaller celestial bodies in the solar system that did not fit the traditional definition of a planet.
The word "minor" comes from the Latin "minor", meaning smaller or lesser, and "planet" comes from the Greek "planetai", meaning wanderers, which refers to the way planets appear to wander across the sky.
Example Uses
- The minor planet Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
- The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is home to many minor planets.
- The discovery of minor planets in the outer reaches of the solar system has expanded our understanding of the solar system's structure and evolution.
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
major planet
giant planet
large planet
massive planet
massive object
giant object
large object
significant planet
dominant planet
major celestial body
large celestial body
significant celestial body
dominant celestial body
massive celestial body
giant celestial body