Planets Flashcards
The dark central of a shadow such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object
Umbra
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust a small icy body that orbits the sun
Comet
Space and all matter and energy in it
Universe
The force that objects exert on one another because of their mass.
Gravity
A small object from outer space that passes through Earths atmosphere and reaches the surface
Meteorite
A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface
Impact crater
The rise and fall of oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun
Tide
In an orbit, a position and in which sun shines equally on both hemispheres
Equinox
A small solid rocky body that orbits the sun
Asteroid
More than half but less than fully illuminated
Gibbous moon
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as Earth rotates
Axis of rotating
A sun centered theory of the universe
Heliocentric theory
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity
Orbit
A brief streak of light produced by particle entering Earth atmosphere in high speed
Meteor
An object that orbits a more massive object
Satellite
The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon
Waning
Earth centered theory of the solar system
Geocentric
The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated
New moon
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight
Solstice
An oval or flattened circle
Ellipse
The entire surface of the moon is illuminated
Full moon
A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon
Mare
Half of the moon is illuminated
Quarter moon
A region shadow that may surround a dark central region
Penumbra
