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Summary
Our own star is called Sol. It, and all that orbit it, are part of the Solar System. This includes, at this time, eight planets (or maybe nine; or possibly twelve or more: the scientific definition of “planet” is under debate), a large and growing number of known moons that orbit these planets, and millions of smaller asteroids and comets, which range in size from several hundred kilometers in diameter to microscopic.
Most of these objects are not visible to even the largest telescopes, since the tiny greatly outnumber the large. But many of them are excellent targets for even the smallest scope. The Sun and the Moon are the only two bodies in the heavens that clearly appear as disks to the unaided eye, rather than as points of light. Seven planets show disks when viewed through telescopes. Some of their moons are also visible.
However, what makes these objects into targets worth visiting often is that they change. The phases of the Moon, Mercury, and Venus; the appearance and passage of spots across the surface of the Sun; the polar caps of Mars; the dance of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn; all of these and more are there to see, even through beginner scopes.
In addition to these regular denizens of the solar neighborhood, there are periodic visitations from lesser-known objects. These include asteroids, comets, and meteors.
This chapter will give a brief description of all of these objects.
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- Stargazing BasicsGetting Started in Recreational Astronomy, pp. 73 - 95Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008