TOML

Celestial Object Types - TOML

Celestial object types are classifications of natural bodies in space based on their properties and characteristics. Stars, planets, dwarf planets, satellites, comets, asteroids, and meteors are the major classifications, each with distinct physical properties and formation processes. According to definitions by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), solar system objects are broadly categorized into three groups: planets, dwarf planets, and small solar system bodies. These classifications serve as foundational knowledge for astronomical research and space exploration.

astronomy celestial bodies stars planets satellites comets asteroids meteors space solar system

[[items]]
code = "01"
slug = "star"
name = "Star"
description = "Massive gaseous bodies that produce their own light and heat through nuclear fusion."
category = "Stellar Objects"
examples = "[\"Sun\",\"Sirius\",\"Betelgeuse\",\"Proxima Centauri\"]"

[[items]]
code = "02"
slug = "planet"
name = "Planet"
description = "Nearly spherical bodies that orbit stars without producing their own light."
category = "Planetary Objects"
examples = "[\"Earth\",\"Mars\",\"Jupiter\",\"Saturn\"]"

[[items]]
code = "03"
slug = "dwarf-planet"
name = "Dwarf Planet"
description = "Spherical bodies orbiting stars like planets but without clearing their orbital neighborhood."
category = "Dwarf Planetary Objects"
examples = "[\"Pluto\",\"Ceres\",\"Eris\",\"Haumea\",\"Makemake\"]"

[[items]]
code = "04"
slug = "satellite"
name = "Satellite"
description = "Bodies that orbit planets or dwarf planets."
category = "Satellites"
examples = "[\"Moon\",\"Io\",\"Europa\",\"Titan\"]"

[[items]]
code = "05"
slug = "comet"
name = "Comet"
description = "Icy bodies composed of frozen gases and dust that develop tails when approaching stars."
category = "Small Solar System Bodies"
examples = "[\"Halley's Comet\",\"Hale-Bopp\",\"67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko\"]"

[[items]]
code = "06"
slug = "asteroid"
name = "Asteroid"
description = "Small rocky or metallic bodies in the solar system, smaller than planets."
category = "Small Solar System Bodies"
examples = "[\"Vesta\",\"Pallas\",\"Itokawa\",\"Ryugu\"]"

[[items]]
code = "07"
slug = "meteor"
name = "Meteor"
description = "The phenomenon of meteoroids entering the atmosphere and producing light, or the bodies themselves."
category = "Small Solar System Bodies"
examples = "[\"Perseids\",\"Geminids\",\"Barringer Crater\"]"

[[items]]
code = "08"
slug = "meteor-shower"
name = "Meteor Shower"
description = "Phenomena where meteoroids sharing the same orbit approach Earth, producing numerous visible meteors."
category = "Small Solar System Bodies"
examples = "[\"Perseids\",\"Geminids\",\"Leonids\"]"