EU - Chapter 9 Vocabulary Flashcards

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1
Q

Altitude

A

The measurement that describes the vertical position of an object in relation to the horizon; measured in degrees from the horizon to a point directly overhead, known as the zenith (Pg. 309)

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2
Q

Asterisms

A

A smaller, recognizable star pattern without a larger constellation (Pg .306)

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3
Q

Asteroid Belt

A

A region of rocky debris that forms a ring all the way around the Sun at a distance of about 3 AU (Pg. 336)

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4
Q

Asteroids

A

A metallic, rocky body without atmosphere that orbits the Sun but is too small to be classified as a planet or dwarf planet (Pg. 336)

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5
Q

Astronomers

A

A person who knows and studies astronomy (Pg. 305)

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6
Q

Astronomical Bodies

A

An object in space, including Earth (Pg. 305)

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7
Q

Astronomical Unit (AU)

A

A unit of measure used to measure distances in space; one AU equals the average distance between the Sun and Earth, about 150 million kilometres (Pg. 332)

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8
Q

Astronomy

A

The study of objects and phenomena in space (Pg. 305)

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9
Q

Aurora Australis

A

The light displays in the Southern Hemisphere cause by the solar wind interacting with particles in Earth’s atmosphere (Pg. 323)

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10
Q

Aurora Borealis

A

the light displays in the Northern Hemisphere cause by the solar wind interacting with particles in Earth’s atmosphere (Pg. 323)

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11
Q

Azimuth

A

The measurement that describes the horizontal position of a celestial body in relation to due north; measured in degrees along the horizon starting from due north, moving in a clockwise direction

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12
Q

Celestial Bodies

A

An object that can be observed in the sky; does not include Earth (Pg. 305)

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13
Q

Comets

A

A celestial object made of ice and dust that travels in an elliptical orbit around the Sun (Pg. 338)

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14
Q

Constellation

A

A group of stars that, observed from Earth, resembles a form (305)

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15
Q

Declination

A

The vertical coordinate measurement that describes the position of a celestial body on the celestial sphere, similar to latitude; measured in units of degrees (Pg. 310)

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16
Q

Dwarf Planet

A

An astronomical body that orbits the Sun, has enough mass to from a roughly spherical shape under its own gravitational force, and has an eccentric orbit or orbits in a zone that contains many other objects; protoplanets are a subgroup of dwarf planets; Pluto is a well known example of a dwarf planet (Pg. 337)

17
Q

Ecliptic

A

The apparent path of the Sun and planets as observed from Earth as the move through the sky during the year (Pg. 316)

18
Q

Equinoxes

A

The day of the year when the hours of daylight and hours of night are equal in length; the vernal equinox occurs around March 21 and the autumnal equinox occurs around September 22 (Pg. 308)

19
Q

Light-year (ly)

A

A unit of measure used to measure distances in space; one light-year equals the distance that a beam of light travels through space in one year, equivalent to 63 000 AU or 9000 billion km (Pg. 332)

20
Q

Lunar Eclipse

A

A celestial event that occurs when Earth blocks all or part of the Sun’s light shinning on the Moon, making the Moon briefly disappear (Pg. 320)

21
Q

Meteor

A

A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up as it collides with gas molecules (Pg. 339)

22
Q

Meteorite

A

A meteor that does not burn up completely and strikes Earth’s surface (Pg. 339)

23
Q

Nebula

A

A cloud of dust and gases in space, which scientists believe is an area of star formation (Pg. 330)

24
Q

Nebular Theory

A

The theory that explains the formation of the solar system and other start-and-planet systems from nebulae (Pg. 330)

25
Q

Orbit

A

The path along which an object, such as a planet, travels around another object, such as a star; Earth travels around the Sun in a slight elliptical orbit (Pg. 317)

26
Q

Planet

A

An astronomical body that orbits one or more stars and is capable of forming into a spherical shape under its own gravitational force, or gravity (Pg. 331)

27
Q

Revolution

A

One complete orbit of one object around another; one revolution of Earth around the Sun takes one year (Pg. 317)

28
Q

Right Ascension (RA)

A

The horizontal coordinate measurement that describes the position of a celestial body on the celestial sphere, similar to longitude; measured in units of hours, minutes, and seconds (Pg. 310)

29
Q

Rotation

A

One complete spin of an object, such as a planet, on its axis; one rotation or Earth takes 24 hours (Pg. 316)

30
Q

Satellite

A

An object that obits a planet, such as a moon; satellites may be natural or artificial (Pg. 318)

31
Q

Solar Eclipse

A

A celestial event that occurs when the Moon lies directly between Earth and the Sun, blocking all or part of the Sun’s light to viewers on Earth (Pg. 319)

32
Q

Solar Flare

A

A high energy, massive explosion at the surface of the Sun (Pg. 322)

33
Q

Solar Prominence

A

A large, low energy, curved, bright stream of particles (Pg. 322)

34
Q

Solar System

A

The Sun and all the planets and other celestial objects, such as moons, comets, and asteroids, that are held by the Sun’s gravity and orbit around it (Pg. 329)

35
Q

Solar Wind

A

The constant flow of particles streaming out of the Sun’s surface in all directions (Pg. 323)

36
Q

Solstices

A

The longest period of daylight or night in a year; the summer solstice is the longest day of the year and occurs around June 21 in the northern hemisphere; the winter solstice is the longest night of the year and occurs around December 21 in the northern hemisphere (Pg. 307)

37
Q

Star

A

A body of electrically charged gas, or plasma, that emits energy from nuclear reactions taking place in its core (Pg. 321)

38
Q

Sunspot

A

A region on the Sun’s surface that is cooler than the surrounding areas (Pg. 321)