SOLAR SYSTEM Flashcards
The sun and its family of orbiting planets, moons, and other objects.
Solar System
Millions or billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity
Galaxy
Space and all matter and energy in it
Universe
An object that orbits a more massive object
Satellite
A round pit left behind on my the surface of a planet or their body in space after a smaller object strikes the surface.
Impact Crater
An imaginary line about which a turning body, such as Earth rotates.
Axis of Rotation
The motion of one body around another, such as Earth in its orbit around the Sun.
Revolution
One part of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over a course of a year.
Season
In an orbit, a position and time in which sunlight shines equally on the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere
Equinox
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere gets its maximum are of sunlight, while the other hemisphere gets its minimum amount.
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 of cone of complete shadow cast by an object.
Umbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround an umbra
Penumbra
Earth’s average distance from the Sun, which is approximately 93 million miles.
Astronomical Unit
Earth or a planet similar to Earth that has a rocky surface
Terrestrial Planet
A large planet that consists of mostly gases in a dense form
Gas Giants
A small, rocky body that orbits the Sun.
Asteroid
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust
Comet
A brief streak of light by a small particle entering Earth’s atmosphere at a high speed.
Meteor
A small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface.
Meteorite
Having or representing Earth as a center, as in former astronomical systems.
Geocentric
Having or representing the sun as a center, as I’m the accepted astronomical model of the solar system
Heliocentric
The force that objects exert on each other because of their mass.
Gravity
the alternate rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in each lunar day at a particular place, due to the attraction of the moon and sun.
Tide
Gradually increasing in illumination.
Waxing
Gradually decreasing in illumination.
Waning
More than half but less than fully illuminated.
Gibbous Moon
Less than half illuminated.
Crescent Moon
The phase of the moon in which its whole moon is illuminated.
Full Moon
The moon is not illuminated by the sun.
New Moon
The moon is one-half illuminated by the sun.
Quarter Moon
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity
Orbit
Flatten circle or oval of orbit.
Ellipse
