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PIP’S STARHAVEN · FIELD NOTES · CHILDREN

Orbits: moving and falling together

An orbit is a curved path around another object. Gravity bends a moving planet’s path around the Sun.

A planet also spins on its axis. A spin and a trip around the Sun are different movements.

Wonder about this

Is one rotation always the same as one orbit?

A science clue

No. Rotation means spinning; an orbit is a trip around another object.