Astronomy unit 1 Flashcards
Planet
Anything that orbits a star
Solar System
Sun, planets, and various other bodies
Star with planets
Galaxy
Group of millions or billions of stars held together by their own gravity
Group of stars held together by gravity
Universe
Everything- space &all the matters & energy in it
Everything
Orbit
Path of an object in space as it moves around another object because of gravity
Path around another object
Constellation
Group of stars that form a pattern in the sky
Group of stars that form a pattern
Smallest to biggest
Planets, galaxy, moons, universe, stars, solar system
Moons, planets, stars, solar system, galaxy, universe
What causes the different groupings of space objects?
Gravity
What would happen to the pattern of stars in a constellation if viewed from the side?
It wouldn’t be the same pattern
The North Pole points to which star?
Polaris
Why do constellations appear to change position over time?
Because the Earth spins
What are the so called “wanderers” that appear to move through a constellation?
The planets
Electromagnetic Radiation
Energy that travels across distances as certain types of waves
Energy from the sun
Spectrum
Range of wave lengths
Wavelength
Distance between 2 peeks
Telescope
Device that gathers electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation
Reflective telescope
Uses a mirror
Fat & short
Refracting telescope
Uses lenses
Bends light
Long & skinny
What is Earth’s major source of electromagnetic radiation?
Sun
List 7 forms of the electromagnetic spectrum from LONGEST wavelength to SHORTEST
I only have 6 forms
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays
Which category would the color blue belong to?
Visible light
Why are the most powerful telescopes built on top of mountains?
Less atmospheric interpherence
Why do radio telescopes have to be so large?
They pick up radio waves
Radio waves have a long/large wave length
Why are radio telescopes usually grouped with other radio telescopes?
They combine the signals to make 1 image
What advantages do radio telescopes have over light telescopes?
There’s no atmospheric interpherence
What is the Hubble space telescope?
A radio controlled reflecting telescope that travels through space
Satellite
An object that orbits a more massive object
Smaller object that goes around a bigger object
Space Station
A large artificial satellite used as a long-term base for manned operations in space
Flyby
Flys past planets & takes pictures
Takes pictures of several planets
Orbiter
Goes around planets & maps the surface
Maps the surface
Lander
Lands & collects samples
Probes
Measures properties of atmospheres, before it’s destroyed
Measures atmosphere before it explodes
List some of the supplies that astronauts need to bring with them into space
Water, food, oxygen/air, reliable equipment
What 2 countries were in a race to the moon?
USA & Soviet Union (Russia) USSR
What country launched the 1st satellite into space & also sent (Sputnik) the 1st human into space?
USSR (Russia/ Soviet Union)
What country landed the 1st humans on the moon?
USA
How much rock and soil was brought back from the moon?
380 kilograms (weighing 840 lbs)
What is the international space station?
Orbits the Earth
Satellite in which people live and work for long periods of time
What experiments on the ISS are further understanding of cancer and other diseases?
Cell tissue experiments, grow very quickly in space
What is the main difference between space shuttles and early space craft?
Shuttles can be reused
Give an example how missions could or have been combined
Mars Rover
Impact crater
- A large object from space falls toward the surface at a very high speed
- The object explodes as it strikes the surface, compressing and fracturing the rock underneath
- As the rock springs back from the impact, material is thrown out of the crater
A hole in the ground from an exploding space rock
How do scientists learn about Earth by comparing it to other planets and moons?
How liquid water affects our atmosphere
Why doesn’t Earth have very many impact craters on it’s surface?
It’s constantly being worn down by wind and water and altered by forces beneath the surface (plate technics)
What do scientists learn specifically about Earth’s water by studying other planets atmospheres?
How liquid water affects our atmosphere
What phenomenon do scientists think have caused periods of cooling on the Earth?
Some ice ages have been triggered by the sun having cooling periods
List 2 examples of how space technology has improved different satellites around Earth
Mapping & weather
Why does everything on a space craft have to be so lightweight and durable?
In order to take off it needs to be light
There’s no tow truck in space, your on your own
What occupation has used space technologies to improve protective suits?
Firefighters improved because of the NASA programs
Scientists have learned that gravity works the SAME way in space as it does on Earth
True/false
True
The moon has FEWER impact craters than Earth
True/false
False, more
