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Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Astronomy > 5 Solar System Observation > Flashcards

5 Solar System Observation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Retrograde motion?

A

Retrograde motion is when the planets occasionally appeared to travel backwards from east to west in a ‘loop-the-loop’ motion

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2
Q

How can you explain Retrograde motion?

A

Retrograde motion is the faster moving Earth overtaking the superior planet on the inside of its orbit

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3
Q

What is the Zodiacal Band?

A

The band that contains all the orbits of the planets and the Sun. The band is at ~8° either side of the ecliptic due to the large orbital inclination of Mercury

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4
Q

What is an inferior planet?

A

An inferior planet is a planet that has an orbit that is smaller than the other planet in perspective

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5
Q

What is a superior planet?

A

A superior planet is a planet that has an orbit that is greater than the other planet in perspective

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6
Q

What is Inferior conjunction?

A

Inferior conjunction is when an inferior planet is in between your planet and the Sun in perspective

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7
Q

What is Superior conjunction?

A

Superior planet is when an inferior planet and your planet are on the opposite sides of the Sun

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8
Q

What is greatest elongation?

A

Greatest elongation is when an inferior planet appears furthest away from the Sun.

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9
Q

What is opposition?

A

Opposition is when a superior planet is opposite to the Sun. The superior planet is closest to Earth and at its brightest

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10
Q

What is the transit of a planet?

A

A transit is when a planet goes in front of the Sun

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11
Q

What is an occultation?

A

An occultation is when a planet obscures a distant star as it goes in front of it for a few moments

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12
Q

What are the equatorial coordinates of the First Point Point of Libra?

A 
RA = 12h 00min
Dec. = 0°
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13
Q

Which space probe studied Halley’s comet?

A

Giotto

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14
Q

What is another word for solar prominence?

A

A solar flare

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15
Q

What is a Transit?

A

A transit is when a planet and the Earth line up so that the planet appears to move across the Sun

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16
Q

What is an occultation?

A

An occultation is when one body in space obstructs our view of another. Transits and eclipses are types of occultations

17
Q

What is Opposition?

A

When a superior planet is closest to the Earth and in the opposite section of the sky compared to the Sun

18
Q

What is Conjunction?

A

When to celestial bodies appear to have a close approach and look as if they overlap

19
Q

What is Greatest Elongation?

A

Greatest elongation is when an inferior planet appears to be the furthest distance away from the Sun. It occurs when the Planet is at a 90° angle to the Earth and the Sun

20
Q

Why are we able to see more meteors during a meteor shower?

A

A meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through a meteor stream. The meteor stream consists of many small grains of dust and rock which become very hot through friction with the Earth’s atmosphere

21
Q

Which two stars does Orion’s Belt point to?

A

Sirius and Aldebaran

22
Q

Why do different cultures have different names for constellations?

A

When asterisms and constellations were first named, there was very little communication. Different cultures were relatively isolated compared with today, and so were unable to share/exchange stories, myths and legends.
Different cultures were able to see different stars and identify patterns because of different geographical locations.
Different cultures used different stories, myths and legends on which many of their asterisms and constellations were named

23
Q

What has a declination of 0°?

A

The Celestial Equator

24
Q

What would an object be if it had a constant brightness then disappeared before it reached the horizon?

A

An artificial satellite

25
Q

What would an object most likely be if it has coloured lights and a white light that flashes at regular intervals?

A

An Aircraft

26
Q

What makes planets visible?

A

Reflection

27
Q

What allows the radar technique to determine distances to nearby objects?

A

Reflection

28
Q

What causes the dust tail of a comet to be visible?

A

Reflection of sunlight

29
Q

Why does the dust tail of a comet point away from the Sun?

A

Radiation pressure from the Sun

30
Q

What causes the ion tail of a comet to be visible?

A

Fluorescence / excitation of ions

31
Q

Why does the ion tail of a comet point away from the Sun?

A

Interaction with Solar wind

Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Astronomy (20 decks)

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