A huge ball of hot gas that produces light and heat by nuclear reactions

What causes day and night on Earth?

Earth's rotation on its own axis

A vast system of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity

A small icy body that orbits the Sun and develops a bright tail as it approaches the Sun

Why does the Moon appear to shine at night?

The Moon reflects light from the Sun; it does not produce its own light

The Moon produces its own light

The Moon absorbs sunlight and releases it at night

Why does the Earth experience seasons?

Because the Earth's axis is tilted, causing different parts of Earth to receive different amounts of sunlight at different times of the year

Because the Earth moves closer to and farther from the Sun

Because the Moon affects Earth's temperature

Seasons are caused by clouds covering the Sun

What is the difference between a meteor and a meteorite?

A meteor is a meteoroid burning in the atmosphere (shooting star); a meteorite is one that reaches Earth's surface

A meteor reaches Earth; a meteorite burns up

Why is Venus called the 'hottest planet' despite not being closest to the Sun?

Its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat (greenhouse effect), making it hotter than Mercury

Venus is actually closest to the Sun

Venus has an internal heat source

Venus reflects more light, making it seem hot

What is the asteroid belt?

A region between Mars and Jupiter containing millions of rocky objects called asteroids

What is the difference between revolution and rotation of the Earth?

Rotation is Earth spinning on its axis (causes day/night); revolution is Earth orbiting the Sun (causes seasons and year)

Both mean Earth spinning on its axis

Revolution is spinning; rotation is orbiting

Why do astronauts experience weightlessness in space?

Because in orbit, both the astronaut and spacecraft are in continuous free fall, so there is no normal force (apparent weightlessness)

Astronauts are too far from Earth's gravity

Space suits cancel gravity's effect

What is the purpose of artificial satellites?

Communication, weather forecasting, GPS navigation, Earth observation, and scientific research

Artificial satellites only help in astronomy

They prevent asteroids from hitting Earth

What makes the Sun important for life on Earth?

It provides heat and light energy needed for photosynthesis, warmth, and drives weather patterns

The Sun provides only light, not heat

The Sun is important only for humans

Without the Sun, life would still exist on Earth

Why is Mars called the 'Red Planet'?

Its surface contains iron oxide (rust) giving it a red colour

Mars reflects red light from the Sun

How does the tilt of Earth's axis explain why different seasons occur at the same time in different hemispheres?

When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun (summer), the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away (winter) and vice versa

Both hemispheres have the same season simultaneously

Seasons are caused by Earth's distance from the Sun

Why is a light year a unit of distance rather than time?

It is the distance light travels in one year; since light travels 9.46 trillion km per year, it is used to measure vast distances in space

A light year is a measure of brightness

A light year measures the age of stars

It is both a measure of distance and time

Why can't we hear sound in space?

Sound needs a medium (air, water, or solid) to travel; space is a near-perfect vacuum with no medium for sound to travel through

Sound travels too fast in space

Astronaut helmets block all sound

How does the study of other planets help us understand Earth?

Comparing Earth with other planets reveals what makes Earth habitable (atmosphere, liquid water, temperature) and helps us understand planetary evolution

Studying other planets only benefits space travel

Other planets are irrelevant to Earth's study

Earth is too different from other planets to compare

Why do planets orbit the Sun instead of flying off into space?

The Sun's gravitational pull keeps planets in orbit; the balance between gravity (pulling inward) and orbital velocity (moving outward) keeps them in a stable path

Planets are tied to the Sun by invisible strings

Planets orbit because space is empty

Planets orbit because of the Moon's influence

Why do scientists consider Mars a candidate for future human habitation?

Mars has a day length similar to Earth, has ice at its poles (potential water source), and its distance and temperature are within ranges that could be engineered for human life

Mars has a breathable atmosphere already

Mars has liquid water on the surface

What is a black hole and why can't light escape from it?

A black hole is an extremely dense region where gravity is so strong that the escape velocity exceeds the speed of light, so nothing, not even light, can escape

A black hole is an empty region of space

Light does escape from black holes slowly

Black holes are stars without light

Which of the following are ways humans have explored space?

Launching artificial satellites

Sending astronauts to the Moon (Apollo missions)

Earth is sometimes called the 'Goldilocks Planet'. What does this mean in the context of supporting life?

Earth is in the 'Goldilocks Zone' – not too hot, not too cold, just the right distance from the Sun; it has liquid water, an oxygen atmosphere, and conditions that are 'just right' for life

Earth is exactly in the middle of the solar system

Goldilocks refers to Earth's golden colour from space

If a new planet were discovered, what conditions would scientists look for to determine if it could support life?

Liquid water, suitable temperature range, protection from radiation (atmosphere or magnetic field), presence of essential chemicals (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen)

The planet must be identical to Earth

The planet must orbit a star exactly like the Sun

How does the discovery of exoplanets (planets orbiting other stars) change our understanding of the universe?

It suggests that planets are common throughout the universe, increasing the probability that conditions for life may exist elsewhere

Exoplanets prove that life exists everywhere

Only our solar system has planets

Why is space exploration considered important for humanity, despite its high cost and risks?

It advances technology, leads to scientific discoveries, helps monitor Earth's climate, could eventually provide alternative habitats, and expands human knowledge and curiosity

Space exploration is only about planting flags on other planets

The cost makes space exploration unjustifiable

Space exploration has benefited only astronauts

How does the greenhouse effect on Venus serve as a warning for Earth?

Venus's extreme greenhouse effect (surface temp ~465°C) shows what happens when CO2 levels are very high; excessive CO2 on Earth from burning fossil fuels could have catastrophic consequences

Venus's greenhouse effect is unrelated to Earth

Earth's greenhouse gases are beneficial without limits

Venus and Earth have the same greenhouse gases

Which of the following are reasons why the Moon is important for Earth?

It stabilises Earth's axial tilt, preventing extreme climate changes

It creates ocean tides through gravitational pull

It reflects sunlight, providing some light at night

It produces oxygen for Earth's atmosphere

Which of the following are true about the Solar System?

The Sun contains about 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System

All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction

Planets farther from the Sun take longer to complete one orbit

All planets are similar in size

Which of the following are ways that space technology has benefited everyday life on Earth?

GPS navigation using satellites

Weather forecasting using weather satellites

Communication through communication satellites

Space travel has not produced any useful technology for Earth

Which of the following are threats to Earth from space that scientists monitor?

Asteroids or meteorites on collision courses with Earth

Solar flares that can disrupt electronic systems

Space debris orbiting Earth threatening satellites

Gravitational pull of the Moon causing earthquakes

Which of the following correctly describe characteristics of the Sun?

It is made primarily of hydrogen and helium

It generates energy through nuclear fusion

It is located at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy

NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth

Name: Beyond Earth – Class 6 Science
Uploaded: 2026-07-24T04:12:28+00:00
Description: This chapter takes students on a journey beyond Earth, exploring stars, constellations, planets, the Moon, and other celestial objects like asteroids and comets. It also introduces the Solar System, space missions like Chandrayaan, and the vast Universe beyond our galaxy.

Class 6 Science

Last Updated: 24 July 2026

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Chapter Introduction

This chapter takes students on a journey beyond Earth, exploring stars, constellations, planets, the Moon, and other celestial objects like asteroids and comets. It also introduces the Solar System, space missions like Chandrayaan, and the vast Universe beyond our galaxy.

हिंदी में (Hindi)

यह अध्याय छात्रों को पृथ्वी से बाहर की एक रोमांचक यात्रा पर ले जाता है, जिसमें तारे, नक्षत्र, ग्रह, चंद्रमा और अन्य खगोलीय पिंड जैसे उल्का पिंड (asteroids) और पुच्छल तारे (comets) शामिल हैं। यह सौर मंडल, चंद्रयान जैसे अंतरिक्ष अभियानों और हमारी आकाशगंगा से परे फैले विशाल ब्रह्मांड की भी जानकारी देता है।

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Important Points

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Practice MCQ Questions (41 questions)

Q1. How many planets are in our Solar System?

Q2. Which is the largest planet in our Solar System?

Q3. Which planet is closest to the Sun?

Q4. What is the natural satellite of the Earth?

Q5. Which is the only planet known to support life?

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Tough Words (Glossary)

Majestic

Meaning: Grand and impressive in appearance

अर्थ: भव्य

"We saw majestic mountain peaks in Ladakh."

Glacier

Meaning: A large mass of moving ice

अर्थ: हिमनद/हिमालय

"The glacier shone in the sunlight."

Awe

Meaning: A strong feeling of wonder and respect

अर्थ: श्रद्धाभाव/आश्चर्य

"The starry sky filled them with awe."

Cloudless

Meaning: With no clouds in the sky

अर्थ: निर्मेघ

"It was a cloudless night in Nubra."

Light pollution

Meaning: Too much artificial light that hides stars

अर्थ: प्रकाश प्रदूषण

"Light pollution makes stars hard to see."

Constellation

Meaning: A region of the sky with a well-known star pattern

अर्थ: नक्षत्रमंडल/तारामंडल

"Orion is a famous constellation."

Star

Meaning: A huge ball of hot glowing gases

अर्थ: तारा

"The Sun is also a star."

Dim

Meaning: Not bright; faint

अर्थ: मंद

"Some stars look dim to the eye."

Pattern

Meaning: An arrangement that forms a design

अर्थ: आकृति/रूपरेखा

"The dots made a simple pattern."

Navigation

Meaning: Finding one’s way or direction

अर्थ: दिशा-निर्धारण/संचालन

"Sailors used stars for navigation."

Magnetic compass

Meaning: A tool with a needle that points north

अर्थ: चुंबकीय दिशासूचक

"The compass helped find north."

International Astronomical Union (IAU)

Meaning: World body that names and defines sky objects/regions

अर्थ: अंतरराष्ट्रीय खगोल संघ

"IAU defined 88 constellations."

Orion

Meaning: A constellation often pictured as a hunter

अर्थ: ओरायन

"Orion’s belt has three bright stars."

Canis Major

Meaning: Constellation called the Great Dog

अर्थ: केनिस मेजर

"Sirius is in Canis Major."

Taurus

Meaning: Constellation imagined as a bull

अर्थ: टॉरस/वृषभ

"Aldebaran shines in Taurus."

Sirius

Meaning: The brightest star in the night sky

अर्थ: सीरियस

"Sirius is easy to spot in winter."

Nakshatra

Meaning: A star or group of stars in Indian astronomy

अर्थ: नक्षत्र

"Krittika is a famous nakshatra."

Betelgeuse

Meaning: A bright star in Orion

अर्थ: बेटलजूस

"Betelgeuse looks reddish in Orion."

Pleiades

Meaning: A small cluster of stars in Taurus

अर्थ: कृत्तिका/प्लेयडीज़

"The Pleiades look like little jewels."

Aldebaran

Meaning: A bright star in Taurus

अर्थ: अल्डेबरन/रोहिणी

"Aldebaran marks the eye of the bull."

Big Dipper

Meaning: A seven-star pattern in Ursa Major

अर्थ: सप्तऋषि (आकृति)

"The Big Dipper helps find Polaris."

Little Dipper

Meaning: A smaller dipper shape in Ursa Minor

अर्थ: लिटिल डिपर

"Polaris is part of the Little Dipper."

Polaris (Pole Star)

Meaning: Star that appears fixed in the north

अर्थ: ध्रुवतारा

"Polaris shows the North direction."

Ursa Major

Meaning: Constellation also called the Great Bear

अर्थ: उर्सा मेजर

"Ursa Major contains the Big Dipper."

Ursa Minor

Meaning: Constellation called the Little Bear

अर्थ: उर्सा माइनर

"Ursa Minor hosts Polaris."

Hemisphere

Meaning: Half of the Earth (north or south)

अर्थ: गोलार्ध

"Polaris is seen in the Northern Hemisphere."

Dark sky reserve

Meaning: Protected area with very little light at night

अर्थ: डार्क स्काई रिज़र्व

"A dark sky reserve shows many stars."

Binoculars

Meaning: A device with two lenses to see distant objects

अर्थ: दूरबीन (दो आँखों वाली)

"Stars looked brighter in binoculars."

Telescope

Meaning: Instrument that makes far objects look bigger

अर्थ: दूरबीन/दूरदर्शी

"We saw Jupiter’s moons in a telescope."

Adjust to darkness

Meaning: Let eyes get used to low light

अर्थ: अंधेरे में अभ्यस्त होना

"Wait to adjust to darkness before observing."

Solar System

Meaning: The Sun, planets, moons and other objects

अर्थ: सौर मंडल

"Earth is part of the Solar System."

Astronomical unit (au)

Meaning: Average distance from Earth to Sun

अर्थ: खगोलीय इकाई

"Mars is about 1.5 au from the Sun."

Diameter

Meaning: Distance across a circle through its center

अर्थ: व्यास

"The Sun’s diameter is about 100 times Earth’s."

Revolution

Meaning: Movement of a body around another

अर्थ: परिक्रमण

"Earth’s revolution around the Sun takes a year."

Rotation

Meaning: Spinning of a body on its axis

अर्थ: घूर्णन

"Earth’s rotation gives us day and night."

Axis

Meaning: An imaginary line about which a body rotates

अर्थ: अक्ष

"Earth rotates about its axis."

Proxima Centauri

Meaning: Nearest star after the Sun

अर्थ: प्रॉक्सिमा सेंटॉरी

"Proxima Centauri is very far away."

Planet

Meaning: Large body that revolves around a star

अर्थ: ग्रह

"Earth is a planet of the Sun."

Inner planets

Meaning: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

अर्थ: आंतरिक ग्रह

"Inner planets have rocky surfaces."

Outer planets

Meaning: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

अर्थ: बाह्य ग्रह

"Outer planets are much larger."

Gas giant

Meaning: Very large planet made mostly of gases

अर्थ: गैस दानव

"Jupiter is a gas giant."

Ring (of a planet)

Meaning: Flat circle made of ice, dust and rocks

अर्थ: छल्ला/वलय

"Saturn’s rings are wide and bright."

Atmosphere

Meaning: Layer of gases around a planet

अर्थ: वायुमंडल

"Earth’s atmosphere protects life."

Greenhouse effect

Meaning: Trapping of heat by gases in air

अर्थ: हरितगृह प्रभाव

"The greenhouse effect warms planets."

Dawn

Meaning: Early morning light

अर्थ: भोर/उषा

"Venus shines at dawn."

Dusk

Meaning: Time just after sunset

अर्थ: सांझ/संध्या

"Venus is bright at dusk too."

Red Planet

Meaning: Nickname of Mars

अर्थ: लाल ग्रह

"Mars is called the Red Planet."

Blue Planet

Meaning: Nickname of Earth

अर्थ: नीला ग्रह

"Earth is called the Blue Planet."

Dwarf planet

Meaning: Small body orbiting the Sun, not a full planet

अर्थ: बौना ग्रह

"Pluto is a dwarf planet now."

Twinkle (scintillate)

Meaning: Appear to flicker in brightness

अर्थ: झिलमिलाना

"Stars twinkle but planets do not much."

Satellite

Meaning: Object that moves around a planet

अर्थ: उपग्रह

"The Moon is Earth’s natural satellite."

Natural satellite

Meaning: A moon formed by nature

अर्थ: प्राकृतिक उपग्रह

"Mars has two natural satellites."

Crater

Meaning: Bowl-shaped hollow on a surface

अर्थ: गड्ढा/क्रेटर

"The Moon’s surface has many craters."

Asteroid

Meaning: Small rocky object orbiting the Sun

अर्थ: क्षुद्रग्रह

"Many asteroids lie between Mars and Jupiter."

Asteroid belt

Meaning: Region with many asteroids

अर्थ: क्षुद्रग्रह घेऱ

"The asteroid belt circles the Sun."

Comet

Meaning: Icy object with a tail when near the Sun

अर्थ: धूमकेतु

"A comet grew a long tail near the Sun."

Tail (of a comet)

Meaning: Stream of gas and dust blown from a comet

अर्थ: पूँछ

"The comet’s tail pointed away from the Sun."

Evaporate (in space)

Meaning: To change from solid/ice to gas

अर्थ: वाष्पित होना

"Ice in comets evaporates near the Sun."

Halley’s Comet

Meaning: A famous comet seen every 76 years

अर्थ: हैले का धूमकेतु

"Halley’s Comet last came in 1986."

Milky Way

Meaning: Our home galaxy of stars

अर्थ: आकाशगंगा

"The Milky Way looks like a faint band."

Galaxy

Meaning: A huge system of stars, gas and dust

अर्थ: आकाशगंगा/दीर्घिका

"A galaxy contains billions of stars."

Universe

Meaning: Everything in space and time

अर्थ: ब्रह्मांड

"Scientists study the universe."

Exoplanet

Meaning: A planet around a star other than the Sun

अर्थ: बहिर्ग्रह

"Astronomers search for exoplanets."

Ladakh

Meaning: A high-altitude region in India

अर्थ: लद्दाख

"Ladakh has clear night skies."

Nubra

Meaning: A valley region in Ladakh

अर्थ: नुब्रा

"Nubra is famous for beautiful views."

Clear sky

Meaning: Sky without clouds or haze

अर्थ: स्वच्छ आकाश

"A clear sky helps stargazing."

Stargazing

Meaning: Watching stars in the night sky

अर्थ: तारों का अवलोकन

"We went stargazing with a telescope."

Brightness

Meaning: Amount of light from an object

अर्थ: चमक

"Sirius has great brightness."

Distance

Meaning: How far one thing is from another

अर्थ: दूरी

"The Sun’s distance is 150 million km."

Nearest neighbour

Meaning: Closest object next to another

अर्थ: सबसे निकट पड़ोसी

"The Moon is Earth’s nearest neighbour in space."

Spacecraft

Meaning: A vehicle sent into space

अर्थ: अंतरिक्ष यान

"A spacecraft orbited the Moon."

Chandrayaan

Meaning: India’s series of Moon missions

अर्थ: चंद्रयान

"Chandrayaan‑3 landed near the south pole."

South pole (of the Moon)

Meaning: The southern region of the Moon

अर्थ: दक्षिण ध्रुव (चंद्रमा का)

"The rover explored the Moon’s south pole."

National Space Day

Meaning: India’s day to celebrate Moon landing success

अर्थ: राष्ट्रीय अंतरिक्ष दिवस

"National Space Day is on August 23."

Spherical

Meaning: Shaped like a ball

अर्थ: गोले जैसा/गोलाकार

"Planets are roughly spherical."

Stationary (appearing)

Meaning: Seeming not to move

अर्थ: स्थिर दिखना

"Polaris appears stationary in the sky."

Identify

Meaning: To recognize something

अर्थ: पहचानना

"We identify Orion by its belt."

Direction

Meaning: North, south, east, or west

अर्थ: दिशा

"Use the Pole Star to find direction."

Moonless

Meaning: Without the Moon in the sky

अर्थ: चंद्रहीन

"Choose a moonless night for faint stars."

Naked eye

Meaning: Without any instrument

अर्थ: नंगी आँख/खुली आँख

"Jupiter is visible to the naked eye."

Ch 1: The Wonderful World of Science

NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth

Chapter Introduction

Watch Video Lecture

Important Points

Practice MCQ Questions (41 questions)

Q1. How many planets are in our Solar System?

Q2. Which is the largest planet in our Solar System?

Q3. Which planet is closest to the Sun?

Q4. What is the natural satellite of the Earth?

Q5. Which is the only planet known to support life?

Q6. What is a star?

Q7. What causes day and night on Earth?

Q8. What is a galaxy?

Q9. What is the name of the galaxy in which our Solar System is located?

Q10. What is a comet?

Q11. Why does the Moon appear to shine at night?

Q12. Why does the Earth experience seasons?

Q13. What is the difference between a meteor and a meteorite?

Q14. Why is Venus called the 'hottest planet' despite not being closest to the Sun?

Q15. What is the asteroid belt?

Q16. What is the difference between revolution and rotation of the Earth?

Q17. Why do astronauts experience weightlessness in space?

Q18. What is the purpose of artificial satellites?

Q19. Which planet has rings around it that are visible from Earth with a telescope?

Q20. What makes the Sun important for life on Earth?

Q21. Why is Mars called the 'Red Planet'?

Q22. How does the tilt of Earth's axis explain why different seasons occur at the same time in different hemispheres?

Q23. Why is a light year a unit of distance rather than time?

Q24. Why can't we hear sound in space?

Q25. How does the study of other planets help us understand Earth?

Q26. Why do planets orbit the Sun instead of flying off into space?

Q27. Why do scientists consider Mars a candidate for future human habitation?

Q28. What is a black hole and why can't light escape from it?

Q29. Which of the following are inner planets (closer to the Sun)?

Q30. Which of the following are outer planets (farther from the Sun)?

Q31. Which of the following are ways humans have explored space?

Q32. Earth is sometimes called the 'Goldilocks Planet'. What does this mean in the context of supporting life?

Q33. If a new planet were discovered, what conditions would scientists look for to determine if it could support life?

Q34. How does the discovery of exoplanets (planets orbiting other stars) change our understanding of the universe?

Q35. Why is space exploration considered important for humanity, despite its high cost and risks?

Q36. How does the greenhouse effect on Venus serve as a warning for Earth?

Q37. Which of the following are reasons why the Moon is important for Earth?

Q38. Which of the following are true about the Solar System?

Q39. Which of the following are ways that space technology has benefited everyday life on Earth?

Q40. Which of the following are threats to Earth from space that scientists monitor?

Q41. Which of the following correctly describe characteristics of the Sun?