Science Flashcards
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity
Orbit
The Sun and its family of orbiting planets and moons and other objects.
Solar system
Millions and billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity.
Galaxy
Space and all the matter and energy in it.
Universe
Space and all the matter and energy in it.
Satellite
A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface
Impact crater
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as Earth rotates
Rotation
The motion of one body around another, such as the Earth in its orbit around the Sun
Revolution
One of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of a year
Season
In an orbit, a position and time in which sun shines equally on both hemispheres.
Equinox
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight
Solstice
A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon.
Mare
An event during which one object in space casts a shadow onto another
Eclipse
The dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object
Umbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region.
Penumbra
Average distance from the sun which is 93,000,000 miles
Astronomical Unit (AU)
An oval or flattened circle.
Ellipse
A planet that has a rocky surface.
Terrestrial Planet
A large planet that consists mostly of gases in a dense form
Gas giant
A small solid rocky body that orbits the Sun.
Asteroid
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the Sun
Comet
A brief streak of light produced by a particle entering Earth’s atmosphere at high speed.
Meteor
A small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface.
Meteorite
Earth-centered theory of the solar system.
Geometric
A Sun-centered theory of the universe.
Heliocentric
The force that objects exert on one another because of their mass.
Gravity
The rise and fall of the oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.
Tide
The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon.
Waxing
The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon.
Wanning
More than half but less than fully illuminated
Gibbous moon
The illuminated surface is less than a quarter illuminated.
Crescent moon
The entire surface of the moon is illuminated.
Full moon
The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated.
New moon
Half of the moon is illuminated.
Quarter moon
