Astronomy

Question 1

Astronomy

Answer 1

Astronomy is the branch of science that studies celestial objects, behaviors, and laws.

Question 2

Astrology

Answer 2

The study of the position and movements of celestial bodies and interpreting these properties as affecting the lives of humans and nature.

Question 3

Rotation

Answer 3

(Something) spinning around its axis/center.

Question 4

Revolution

Answer 4

The movement of a circular object around another object.

Question 5

Constellations

Answer 5

A constellation is a group of stars (or other celestial objects) that form a certain pattern, symbol, or animal (from the viewpoint of Earth).

Question 6

Orbit

Answer 6

The path of a celestial object around a star, planet, or moon.

Question 7

Period

Answer 7

In astronomy, a period refers to the time it takes for something to complete one revolution (e.g. the sun’s orbital period– orbiting the galaxy’s center).

Question 8

Heliocentric

Answer 8

The concept of a solar system having a star at its center.

Question 9

Angular Velocity

Answer 9

The angular velocity of a celestial body is the rate of change of its angular position.

Question 10

Moon Phase

Answer 10

A moon phase is the shape of the sunlit portion of the moon as viewed from Earth. There are 8 main phases: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.

Question 11

New Moon

Answer 11

A new moon occurs when the moon is between the sun and Earth, causing the moon’s sunlit side to not be visible from Earth.

Question 12

Full Moon

Answer 12

A full moon is a lunar phase during which the moon appears completely illuminated from our point of view on Earth (a complete circle in the sky). The Earth is between the moon and the sun.

Question 13

Waxing

Answer 13

When the moon appears to be getting larger (from our vantage point on Earth).

Question 14

Waning

Answer 14

When the sunlit side of the moon appears to be shrinking from our point of view on Earth.

Question 15

Waning

Answer 15

When the sunlit side of the moon appears to be shrinking from our point of view on Earth.

Question 16

Cresent

Answer 16

When the moon is visible from Earth but less than half of the side is illuminated.

Question 17

Gibbous

Answer 17

Gibbous describes the moon as being “mostly sunlit”, or more than ½ of it being illuminated.

Question 18

Quarter Moon (first & third)

Answer 18

A quarter moon is when half of the moon appears to be illuminated from our point of view on Earth (a quarter of the total moon, because we only ever see half of the moon). A first-quarter moon occurs when the moon is in its waxing stage (is illuminated on the right) while a third-quarter moon occurs during the moon’s waning stage (is illuminated on the left).

Question 19

Solar Eclipse

Answer 19

A solar eclipse is when the moon is between the Earth and the sun and casts a shadow on Earth.

Question 20

Lunar Eclipse

Answer 20

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is directly behind the Earth, in the Earth’s shadow, and therefore not illuminated by the sun.

Question 21

Umbra

Answer 21

An umbra is the direct shadow of a celestial body. The place the umbra hits is completely shadowed over. For example, during a solar eclipse, the umbra region of Earth would be the area where the sun appeared completely blocked.

Question 22

Penumbra

Answer 22

A penumbra is the indirect, or half-shadow, of a celestial body. Areas on Earth in the penumbra band during a solar eclipse would see only part of the sun obscured.