AST Final 1 Flashcards
1
Q
speed of light =
A
fastest thing in the universe
2
Q
Astronomical unit (AU)
A
average distance between Earth and Sun
3
Q
1 AU =
A
1.5 x 10^8 km
4
Q
Light year
A
distance light travels in a year
5
Q
1 ly =
A
9.5 x 10^12 km
6
Q
Parsec
A
distance where parallax angle = 1 degree
7
Q
1 pc =
A
3.1 x 10^13
8
Q
Age of universe
A
13.8 billion years
9
Q
Age of the solar system:
A
4.6 billion years
10
Q
Altitude
A
height in the sky
11
Q
azimuth =
A
east/west location
12
Q
zenith =
A
directly overhead observer
13
Q
celestial sphere
A
north celestial pole
south celestial pole
celestial equator
14
Q
ecliptic =
A
Sun’s path through the sky throughout the year
15
Q
Polaris =
A
Northern star (closest to the celestial pole)
this changes are due to precessions
