Astronomy Flashcards
What is a star?
A giant ball of burning gas (hydrogen)
What star is nearest to earth?
the sun
What are some factors that affect the amount of stars we can see?
light pollution, viewing conditions, human eyesight and time of day
What is a constellation?
a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern, visible from earth.
What are two dwarf planets?
Pluto and Eris
How are stars different from planets?
stars are made up of gasses, whilst planets can be made up of solids, liquids and gasses. Stars are usally bigger than planets.
What is the order of the planets?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What is gravity?
gravity is an invisible force that pulls or pushes masses in to different posistions.
Why is gravity stronger or weaker?
The further away an object is from another, the weaker the gravitational pull
What is a neap tide and what does it look like?
A neap tide is when the sun, moon and earth create a ninety degree angle, it is when the tides are at their lowest.
What is a spring tide and what does it look like?
A spring tide is when the sun, moon and earth are in line, it is when the tides are at their highest.
What does orbit mean?
The rotational path of a planet, moon and star.
How long does it take for earth to orbit around the sun?
365 days, 6 hours and 9 minutes.
What kind of orbit does earth complete?
An elliptical orbit.
What happens during a Lunar Eclipse?
When the moon enters earths umbral shadow, the suns rays are blocked by the earth, resulting in the moon having no light to reflect, appearing invisable.
What happens during a Solar Eclipse?
The sun’s rays are blocked by the moon.
How long does it take for the earth to rotate on it’s axis? What is this called?
24 hours. A day.
Name five objects that orbit:
Planets, Moons, Stars, satellites and astriods.
When would the southern hemisphere experience summer?
Through from December, to February, and when the Soutn Pole is tilted towards the sun.
Why do different hemispheres experience different seasons?
Because there are different distances from the sun, because the earth is on a 23.5° angle.
Why does the earth have seasons?
The earth has different seasons at different times of the year because it is on a tilt, which can change the seasons. This is because a different amount of light is hitting earth.
What side does the waxing moon enlarge from?
Right to Left
What side does the waning moon enlarge from?
Left to Right
What is the second biggest moon phase called?
Gibbous
What is the biggest moon phase called?
Full Moon
What is the smallest moon phase called?
New Moon
What is the second smallest moon phase called?
Crescent
What are two names for a half moon?
First Quarter and Third Quarter
What is a group of orbiting planets called?
Heliocentric Orbit
What has gravity?
All mass and matter
