Celestial Objects Flashcards
Comet
An orbiting (very long orbit around the Sun) chunk of ice and dust
Eclipse
The darkening of one celestial object due to another celestial object blocking it because of its position
Tides
The repeated rising and falling of the surface of large bodies of water due to the interactions between Earth, the Moon and the Sun
Constellation
A group of stars that form an identifiable pattern in the sky that can be observed from Earth
Nebula
A giant cloud of dust and gas (mainly hydrogen and helium) that will be the beginning of a star
Red Giant
A star with a mass that is equal to or smaller than that of the Sun near the end of its life cycle. It becomes larger and redder as it runs our of hydrogen fuel
Red Supergiant
A star that is ten times (or more) larger than that of the Sun that is near the end of its life cycle. It becomes hotter and redder as it runs out of hydrogen fuel
White Dwarf
A small, hot dim star created by the remaining material that is left when a red giant dies
Supernova
A stellar explosion that occurs at the end of a massive star’s life
Neutron Star
An extremely dense star made up of tightly packed neutrons when a star over ten solar masses collapses
Black Hole
An extremely dense quantity of matter in space from which no light or matter can escape
Asteroid
Small non-spherical object believed to be left over from the formation of the solar system
Meteor
Meteoroids that enter Earth’s atmosphere
Meteorites
Meteoroids that survive the atmosphere and strike Earth’s surface
Meteoroids
Rocks in space
