Astronomy Flashcards
What is the Sun.
A star
How old is the Sun
4.5 billion
What is the sun made up of
Mainly Hydrogen which it uses to release energy.
What is nuclear fusion
The process that powers the Sun
How does nuclear fusion work
It involves combining atoms at a high speed to make new and heavier atoms, releasing a lot of energy
One earth year
365.25 days
definition of a planets year
The time taken to make one complete orbit around its star.
Summer And Winter equal
Summer high and winter low
What is the angle of the tilt
23.5 degrees
When are the suns rays more concentrated
In the summer because of the earths tilt
What are the phases of the moon caused by?
the Earth Moon and Sun aligning
Half of the moon is always light up by the Sun and the other is in the shadow
Half of the moon is always light up by the Sun and the other is in the shadow
How long does it take for the moon to orbit earth.
28 days roughly
How do solar eclipses occur and what are they?
They happen when the Earth Moon and Sun are perfectly aligned so that the Moon completely blocks the Suns light from reaching Earth.
How do lunar eclipses occur and what are they?
Lunar eclipses occur when the earths shadow obscures the moon. This can cause the moon to look red.
What is the point of telescopes?
To see faraway objects and make them seem closer.
What is a comet?
A small solar system body. An object in the solar system that is not a planet or dwarf planet.
How are comets distinguished?
By their coma and fuzzy tail.
Coma of a comet and what are they made of?
A thin, fuzzy atmosphere that surrounds the centre of the comet. Similar to a comet they are made of ice and dust.
Tail of a comet
The trails of gas and dust that a comet leaves behind as it passes through the solar system. These trails usually leave behind solid debris of dust particles.
when do comas form for a comet?
They form when a comet passes close to the sun.
What is an asteroid?
A small rocky body that orbits the Sun.
What are asteroids made out of?
Carbon, rocks and metals
Where do most asteroids orbit
Have orbits that lie between Mars and Jupiter
