Defintions Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an apogee?

A

The point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth.

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2
Q

Asteroid

A

A small rocky body orbiting the sun.

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3
Q

Astronomer

A

An expert in or student of astronomy.

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4
Q

Astronomy

A

The branch of science that deals with celestial objects,space, and the physical universe as a whole.

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5
Q

Azimuth

A

The azimuth of a celestial body is the angle between the vertical plane containing it and the plane of the meridian

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6
Q

Big Bang

A

The rapid expansion of matter from a state of extremely high density and temperature that according to current cosmological theories marked the origin of the universe.

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7
Q

Binary

A

A double star system comprising of two stars orbiting around their common centre of mass.

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8
Q

Black hole

A

Black holes are objects so dense that not even light can escape their gravity.

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9
Q

Celestial

A

Of or relating to the sky or physical universe as understood in astronomy.

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10
Q

What is a comet?

A

A celestial object that orbits the sun along an elongated path.

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11
Q

Crater

A

The cap-shaped depression of cavity on the surface of the earth or other heavenly body marking the office orifice of a volcano

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12
Q

Earth

A

The planet on which we live. It is the third planet from the sun and the only object in the universe known to harbor life.

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13
Q

Eclipse

A

An astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer.

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14
Q

What is an equinox?

A

The time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length. (September 22 March 20)

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15
Q

Flare

A

A sudden,rapid, and intense variation in brightness. (A solar flare occurs when magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released.)

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16
Q

Galaxy

A

A galaxy is a gravitationally bound system of stars,stellar remnants,interstellar gas,dust,planets and dark matter.

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17
Q

Gravity

A

Gravity is a force which tries to pull two objects toward each other.

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18
Q

Inertia

A

The resistance of any physical object to any change in its state of motion.

19
Q

Jupiter

A

The largest planet in the solar system.

20
Q

Lunar

A

The partial or total blocking of light of one celestial object by another.

21
Q

Mars

A

Fourth planet from the sun

22
Q

Mercury

A

Smallest and innermost planet in the solar planet.

23
Q

Meteor

A

A bright tail of streak of light that appears in the night sky when a meteoroid enters the earth’s atmosphere.

24
Q

Milky Way

A

The spiral galaxy containing our solar system. Has approximately a trillion stars.

25
Q

Moon

A

Astronomical body that orbits the earth, it is earth’s only permanent satellite.

26
Q

Neptune

A

8th planet from the sun

27
Q

Nova

A

An astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright “new” star, that slowly fades away

28
Q

Orbit

A

The path followed by an object revolving around another object, under the influence of gravity

29
Q

Planet

A

A celestial body which is in orbit around the sun

30
Q

Pluto

A

Dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bided beyond Neptune.

31
Q

Pulsar

A

One of several hundred known celestial objects, believed to be rapidly rotating neutron stars, that emits pulses of radiation.

32
Q

Quasar

A

Extremely distant objects in our known universe. They are the furthest objects away from our galaxy that can be seen. They are extremely bright masses of energy and light.

33
Q

Rings

A

Rings of dust and small particles that orbits a planet as a flat disc.

34
Q

Saturn

A

Sixth planet from the sun

35
Q

Solstice

A

Either 2 times of a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. June 21 when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere. December when it reaches its southernmost point.

36
Q

Star

A

A luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity

37
Q

Sunspot

A

A spot or patch appearing from time to time on the suns surface. Appearing dark by contrast to its surroundings.

38
Q

Telescope

A

An instrument that allows people to see distant objects . They are important in astronomy they allow us to study celestial objects.

39
Q

Theory

A

A scientific theory is an explanation for why things work or how things happen.

40
Q

Universe

A

Everything we can touch,feel,sense measure or detect. It includes living things and celestial bodies.

41
Q

Uranus

A

Seventh planet from the sun

42
Q

Venus

A

Second planet from the sun.

43
Q

Wavelength

A

The wavelength of a wave is the distance it requires to complete one oscillation.