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Space > Astronomy > Flashcards

Astronomy Flashcards

1
Q

What is a light year?

A

A light year is the distance light travels in one year.

It’s about 10 trillion kilometres.

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2
Q

What is an Astronomical Unit (AU)

A

An Astronomical Unit or AU is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun (about 150 million km)

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3
Q

How do seasons work?

A

The Earth is tilted at a 23.5° angle and its orbit causes seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, the earth is titled toward the Sun in summer, and away from the Sun winter.

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4
Q

Name the main objects in the solar system.

A

Sun, Planets, Satellites or Moons, Asteriods, Meteors, Comets, Dwarf Planets.

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5
Q

What is retrograde motion

A

Retrograde motion is an optical illusion created as the Earth orbits the Sun faster than other planets like Mars. It makes those planets look as if they’re moving forward, then backward, then forward again.

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6
Q

What are comets?

A

Comets are dirty snowballs. Their tails are created as they approach the Sun and the Sun melts the ice.

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7
Q

What are meteors?

A

Meteors are dust particles that burn up from the friction of striking the Earth’s atmosphere. This causes a streak of light in the sky.

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8
Q

What are the four basic parts of the Sun?

A
  1. Core. Nuclear reactions creating energy.
  2. Photosphere. Radiates energy into space. About 500 km thick. Grainy appearance. 6000°K.
  3. Chromospher. Layer above Photosphere. Sends out jets called spicules.
  4. Corona. Outer atmosphere. Very hot: 1 MILLLION degrees!
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9
Q

What are sunspots?

A

Sunspots are cool regions of the sun (about 4500°C instead of 6000°C). Because they’re cooler, they appear darker.

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10
Q

What are prominences?

A

Prominences are solar flares. They are brief outbursts of energy.

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11
Q

What is the Aurora Borealis?

A

The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights are shimmering lights in the sky created by electrically charged particles from the Sun hitting the Earth’s atmosphere.

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12
Q

What is nuclear fusion?

A

The Sun makes energy by Nuclear Fusion. This happens when Hydrogen atoms are smashed together – or fuse together – to make a new atom, Helium. It makes a tremendous amount of energy.

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13
Q

What are constellations?

A

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky.

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14
Q

How are stars classified?

A

Stars are classified by their temperature. We give them letters to distinguish them, from brightest to dimmest. Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me (O,B,A,F,G,K,M)

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15
Q

Which star is hotter, a blue star or a red star?

A

Blue stars are hottest, about 20,000 to 60,000 K.

Red stars are coldest, about 2,000 to 3,500 K.

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16
Q

What is a binary star?

A

Binary stars are two stars that orbit a common centre point.

17
Q

Name two ways scientists find exoplanets?

A
  1. Radial velocity (Wobble method). They look for stars that wobble from the pull of gravity from the planets orbiting them.
  2. Transit method. They look for stars to get slightly dimmer as a planet moves in front of the star and blocks the light.
18
Q

What is the speed of light?

A

300,000 km/s

19
Q

What is the basic life cycle of an average star?

A 
Nebula (stellar nursery)
Becomes average star -- about 90% of stars
Eventually becomes red giant
Blows off gas to become nebula again
What's left of star becomes white dwarf
Eventually becomes black dwarf
20
Q

What is the basic life cycle of a huge star

A 
Nebula (stellar nursery)
Becomes big star 
Eventually becomes red supergiant
Goes supernova
Leaves behind neutron star
21
Q

What is the basic life cycle of a giant star

A 
Nebula (stellar nursery)
Becomes a giant star 
Eventually becomes red supergiant
Goes supernova
Leaves behind a BLACK HOLE
22
Q

What is luminosity?

A

Luminosity is a measure of how bright a star is.

23
Q

What is the Herzsprung-Russell diagram?

A

The Herzsprung-Russell diagram is a chart that compares the temperature and luminosity of stars.

24
Q

What do we call most of the stars grouped together in the H-R diagram?

A

These are called main sequence stars?

25
Q

Is a white dwarf hot?

A

Yes. It is very hot - but it is not very bright.

26
Q

Is a white dwarf bright?

A

No. It is not very bright - but it is very hot.

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