QUIZ 1.3 Flashcards
The process by which dust and gas accumulate into larger bodies protoplanets,
through gravity.
ACCRETION
Asteroids big enough that a spaceship can land on them and people can walk on
their surface.
PLANETOIDS
A term that refers to very tiny meteoroids, also known as cosmic dusts.
MICROMETEORIODS
- A local term that refers to shooting stars or meteors.
BULALAKAW
The solid, central part of a comet, composed of rock, dust, and frozen gases.
NUCLEUS
- The nebulous envelope of gas and dust that forms around a comet’s nucleus when it is
near the Sun.
COMA
The process by which a comet’s frozen gases turn directly from solid to gas when
heated by the Sun.
SUBLIMATION
A large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere, producing a bright flash and possibly a
sonic boom.
BOLIDE
- The point in the sky from which meteors in a shower appear to originate.
RADIANT
- A type of stony meteorite containing small mineral grains.
CHONDRITE
A layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock, found on the surface of
planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
REGOLITH
- The point in a comet’s orbit where it is closest to the Sun.
PERIHELION
- The point in a comet’s orbit where it is farthest from the Sun.
APHELION
- The process where a meteoroid burns up due to friction with Earth’s atmosphere,
creating the meteor’s visible trail.
ABLATION
A type of glassy object formed by the melting of terrestrial debris during a meteorite
impact.
TETKITE
- A well-known Near-Earth asteroid that will have close encounters with Earth in the future.
APOPHIS
The process by which an asteroid separates into layers (core, mantle, crust)
based on the density of materials, often seen in larger asteroids.
DIFFERENTIATION
The bending of light around a massive object, like an asteroid or planet, which can be
used to detect objects in space.
LENSING
A small celestial body formed from dust and gas in the early solar system, which
can come together to form planets or asteroids.
PLANETESIMAL
- The measure of how much sunlight an object reflects; asteroids with low albedo are
darker, while high-albedo objects are brighter.
ALBEDO
The speed an object must reach to break free from a planet’s or celestial
body’s gravitational influence.
ESCAPE VELOCITY
- A technique used to analyze the chemical composition of meteorites or
asteroids to learn more about the materials that make up the solar system.
MASS SPECTROMETRY
- A type of small celestial object that has characteristics of both comets and asteroids
and orbits between Jupiter and Neptune.
CENTAUR
The release of gases from a comet’s nucleus as it heats up near the Sun,
contributing to the formation of the coma and tails.
OUTGASSING
Rock fragments that have been cemented together by the pressure and heat of a
meteorite impact.
BRECCIA
An ancient, stable part of Earth’s crust that is more resistant to meteorite impacts.
CRATON
The large impact crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, formed by the asteroid
believed to have caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
CHICXULUB CRATER
- Ground, typically found in polar regions, that remains frozen year-round, sometimes
containing ancient organic material, including meteoritic debris.
PERMAFROST
A three-dimensional geometric shape resembling a flattened sphere, often used to
describe the general shape of some asteroids.
ELLIPSOID
How does a celestial impact affect Earth’s climate?
A large celestial impact can eject enormous amounts of dust and aerosols into the atmosphere,
blocking sunlight and causing a period of global cooling. This sudden drop in temperature disrupts
climate patterns, leading to freezing conditions and affecting plant growth. Over time, gases like
CO2 can trap heat, creating a greenhouse effect and leading to long-term warming.
