What is the meaning of the Greek word 'Planetai' that is used for planet?
Open in App
Solution
Meaning of the Greek word 'Planetai':
Asteres planetai, or 'wandering stars,' was the term used by Greek astronomers to describe star-like objects that appeared to move across the sky.
The term has been applied to a wide range of objects, including the moon, satellites, the sun, and asteroids.
A planet, according to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), is a body that orbits the Sun, is massive enough for its own gravity to keep it around, and has 'cleared its neighborhood' of smaller objects approaching its orbit.