Introduction Test Flashcards
What is the revolution of the earth around the sun called?
orbit
What is the slow wobble of the Earth’s axis called - it is due to the influence of the moon?
Precession
What is the recognizable patterns of stars in the sky - there are 88 of them.
constellations
What is a large glowing ball of gas that generates heat and light through nuclear fusion?
star
What are recognizable patterns in the sky that are not one of the 88 constellations?
asterism
What is the portion of the entire universe that we can potentially see called?
observable
What is the time of year when the sun it at the LOWEST altitude in the sky?
winter solstice
What are moderately large objects that orbit a star - these are rocks, icy or gaseous?
planet
What is the sum total of all matter and energy - everything between and within all the galaxies?
Universe
What are relatively small and rocky objects that orbit a star?
comet
What is an object that orbits a planet?
moon
What is the spin of the earth on its axis?
rotation
What time of year is when the sun is at the HIGHEST altitude in the sky?
summer solstice
What is an imaginary sphere that surrounds the earth and is used to “map” the stars in the sky?
celestial sphere
What is it when the sun is at its highest point in the sky for any given location?
local noon
What is another name for the first day of spring?
vernal equinox
What is the closest star to the earth?
Sun
What are constellations that can be found on the equator of the celestial sphere?
zodiac
What is the study of the universe?
astronomy
What are some reasons we have seasons on earth?
the elliptical orbit of the earth
the tilt of the earth
What is the name of the North Star?
Polaris
What is the name of the wobbling of the earth’s tilt?
precession
What are time zones determined by?
local noon
What is the altitude of the north star?
The same as your latitude above the equator
What does the axis of the earth ALWAYS point to?
Polaris
The stars will rise on the ________ horizon.
East
What is the average distance from the sun to the earth measured in?
astronomical units
What has the GREATEST effect on you getting a sunburn?
the height or angle of the sun in the sky
What is the term for the distance light can travel in one year?
a light year
What effects you getting a sunburn?
- the direct of the tilt of the earth
- how close you are to the equator
- the angle of the sun in the sky
At what angle does the sun need to be located before you have to be worried about getting sunburn?
above 45*
Why is the first day of summer the “longest” day?
The sun is at its highest point in the sky at local noon
Your altitude is the same as WHAT in degrees above the equator?
the altitude of the north star
What is used to measure the huge distances between objects in the universe?
light years.
