ch 2: the sky Flashcards
asterism
a named group of stars not identified as a constellation
constellation
one of the stellar patterns identifies by name, usually of mythological gods, people, animals, or objects; region if the sky containing that star pattern
magnitude scale
the astronomical brightness scale; the larger the number, the fainter the star
apparent visual magnitude
the brightness of a star as seen by human eyes on earth
scientific model
an intellectual concept designed to help you think about a natural process w/I necessarily being a conjecture if truth
celestial sphere
an imaginary sphere of very large radius surrounding Earth and to which the planets, stars, sub, and moon seemed to be attached
horizon
the line that marks the apparent intersection of Earth and the sky
zenith
the point on the sky directly overhead
nadir
the point on the bottom if the sky directly under your feet
north celestial pole
the point on the celestial sphere directly above Earth’s North Pole
south celestial pole
the point if the celestial sphere directly above Earth’s south pile
North Pole
the point on the horizon directly below the north celestial pole; directly north
south point
the point in the horizon directly above the south celestial pole; exactly south
east point
the point on the eastern horizon exactly halfway between the north point and the south point; exactly east
West Point
the point on the west horizon exactly halfway between the north point and the south point; exactly west
