definitions and examples for test #4 Flashcards
Definition of Solar System?
The sun together with all the planets and other bodies that revolve around it. a similar system with celestial bodies revolving around a star other than the sun.
EX: 1 star = the sun
8 planets, in distance to the sun from closest to farthest = Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Definition of orbit?
An orbit is a regular, repeating path that one object in space takes around another one.
EX: The path or Earth takes around the Sun is an example of an orbit.
Definition of terrestrial planets?
A terrestrial planet, telluric planet, or rocky planet is a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rock
EX: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Marsks or metals.
Definition of prograde motion?
Having a rotational or orbital movement that is the same as most bodies within a celestial system. (Prograde or direct motion is more normal motion in the same direction )
EX: planets move west-to-east through the stars at night
Definition of satellite?
An artificial body placed in orbit around the earth or moon or another planet in order to collect information or for communication.
EX: Sputnik 1, the first satellite.
Definition of Marias?
Large, dark plains on the moon formed from ancient volcanic eruptions.
EX: The “holes” on the moon.
Definition of nebula?
A cloud of gas and dust in outer space, visible in the night sky either as an indistinct bright patch or as a dark silhouette against other luminous matter.
EX: Ring Nebula, the Dumbbell Nebula, and the Helix Nebula.
Definition of rotation?
The action of rotating around an axis or center.
EX: The earth rotates on its axis.
Definition of Jovian planets?
The “outer” planets, or the more larger planets in our solar system.
EX: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
Definition of retrograde motion?
Retrograde motion in astronomy is, in general, orbital or rotational motion of an object in the direction opposite the rotation of its primary, that is, the central object. Basically when something moves in a “counterclockwise” motion.
EX: when you pass a car on the freeway, the car being passed appears to move backward relative to you.
Definition of meteor?
A small body of matter from outer space that comes into the atmosphere of the Earth .
EX: A shooting star caused by a small object from outer space entering the earth’s atmosphere.
Definition of highlands?
The lighter, heavily cratered regions of the Moon.
Definition of ellipse?
An oval.
EX: The orbital path of planets are in the form of an ellipse.
Definition of revolution?
The movement of one object around a center or another object.
EX: The movement of Earth around the sun.
Definition of comet?
A celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.
EX: Halley’s Comet.
