Earth & Space Science

Question 1

axis

Answer 1

an imaginary line about which an object rotates

Question 2

rotation

Answer 2

to turn around an axis (spin)

Question 3

revolution / orbit

Answer 3

to move around or to circle an object; the path one object takes in moving around another object

Question 4

season

Answer 4

four distinct periods of the year (summer, winter, autumn, spring); a particular period of the year marked by climatic features (rainy season, hurricane season, etc.)

Question 5

planet

Answer 5

a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star

Question 6

moon / satellite

Answer 6

a celestial body orbiting a planet (natural like the Moon or artificial like a man-made satellite)

Question 7

comet

Answer 7

a celestial body with a nucleus of ice and dust and an irregular orbit through the solar system

Question 8

asteroid

Answer 8

a smaller rocky body orbiting the sun

Question 9

meteoroid

Answer 9

a smaller rocky body moving in the solar system, which could become a meteor if it enters the Earth’s atmosphere and a meteorite if it reaches the Earth’s surface

Question 10

star

Answer 10

a large fixed sphere of glowing gas

Question 11

solar system

Answer 11

a collection of a star and the objects which orbit it

Question 12

light year

Answer 12

a measure of how far light will travel in one year (nearly 6 trillion miles)

Question 13

constellation

Answer 13

a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern traditionally named after a mythological figure; modern astronomers divide the sky into 88 constellations to provide a “map” of space from our view

Question 14

galaxy

Answer 14

a collection of stars, gas and dust

Question 15

Universe

Answer 15

all existing space and matter