Astronomy Flashcards
the sun
a star of average size and average brightness
star
ball of gas that is compressed by gravity
stars are luminous
brightness
total amount of viable light emitted by a luminous object per unit of time
luminosity
the total of all radiation emitted per unit of time
celestial object
a object that is in space
planet
celestial object that travel around a star
held in orbits due to the gravitational pull of the sun
8 planets in our universe
terrestrial planet
first 4 planet out from the sun,
they are rocky and have small atmospheres
gas giants
outer 4 planets that are mostly gas with small rocky cores
asteroid belt
band of debris that separates the inner planets from the outer planets. maybe a failed planet
suns positive effects
Gravity (holds planets in orbit)
Axis (seasons, angle pf earth how much heat we get=seasons)
Warmth
Current (energy from sun drives wind and currents)
Energy (solar, photosynthesis)
albedo
earth’s reflectivity
lighter sunstances refelx heat= glaciers= high albedo
darker colours== rocks= low albedo
sun heating the earth
solar radiation goes to the earth
and 20% is absorbed by atmosphere
30% is reflected by the atmosphere
50% is absorbed by land and lakes
solar radiation trapped
when the earth is heated it releases solar radiation that could get trapped in the atmosphere
order of planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars , Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
how are seasons created
the earths tilt creates seasons
as earth revolves around the sun it’s tilt creates seasons
tides
caused by the pull of the moons gravity on earths high tide
side facing moon and side facing away from the moon
switches even 12 hours
parts of the sun
6 layers
core, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere, chromosphere, corona
core of the sun
energy generated by nuclear reactions for the sun in the core- always growing
hottest part of the sun- -15 million degrees C
big- extends 1/4 from the center of the sun
Radiation zone
interior layer of the sun
energy travels outwards by radiation
takes the energy 1 million years to reach the next layer
convection zone
layer in a star where convection currents bring energy upwards
corona
outermost layer of the solar atmosphere
has a highly rarefied gas with a temp over 1 million degrees
viable during a solar eclipse
solar flare
gases and charged particles that shoot from a active sun spot
solar prominence
a structure in the corona consisting of cool gases supported by magnetic fields
sun spot
a cool temporary disturbed area in the solar photosphere that appears dark
aurora borialis
earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that is strongest near the poles
so when solar winds come in contact with these string fields they come in contact with the gas producing lights at night
southern hemisphere is called in aurora Australis
light year
a unit of measurement in space equal to how far light travels in a year
how sun in a communication hazard
solar activity on the surface effects satellites
particles ejected by the sun can effect computer info on satellites
how sun is a radiation hazard
during a solar storm people travelling in planes can get high radiation because of the high attitude
also radiation storms are harmful to astronauts because they aren’t protected by earths atmosphere
satellite
a celestrial object that orbits around another celestial object
directions in the sky
stars and invisible lines can help people find their way
azimuth
left- right in the night sky, old system used from the observer
altitude
up an down in the night sky used my the old system
right accession
left to right new system
declination
up and down new sytem in the sky
Zenith
90 degrees in the sky= right above you
Nadir
270 degrees in sky= right below you
