solar system Flashcards
a large cloud of gas and dust in interstellar space a reion in space where stars are born or where stars explode at the end of their life
Nebula
the cloud of gas and dust that formed our solar system
Solar Nebula
the combitnation of the nuclei od small atoms to form a larger nucleus releases energy
Nuclear Fusion
a dark area of the photosphere of the sun that is cooler than the surrounding areas and that has a strong magnetic field
Sunspot
one of the highly dense planets nearest to the sun mercury, venus, mars, and earth
Terrestrial Planets
the counter clockwise spin of a planet or moon as seen from above the planets north pole rotation in the same direction as the suns rotation
Prograde Rotation
the clock wise spin of a planet or moon as seen from above the planets north pole
Retrograde Rotation
a planet that has deep massive atmosphere such as jupiter saturn uranus or neptune
Gas Giant
a natural or articifial body that revolves around a palnet
Satellite
he phase of the moon when it is in conjunction with the sun and invisible from earth, or shortly thereafter when it appears as a slender crescent.
New Moon
The moon is less than one-half illuminated by the sun but less than one quarter illuminated.
Waxing Crescent
The First Quarter Moon is a primary Moon phase when we can see exactly half of the Moon’s surface illuminated.
1st Quarter Moon
You’ll always see a waxing gibbous moon between a first quarter moon and full moon. Any moon that appears more than half lighted but less than full – whether waxing or waning – is said to be a gibbous moon.
Waxing Gibbous
the phase of the moon in which its whole disk is illuminated.
Full Moon
The waning (shrinking) gibbous Moon rises after sunset, transits the meridian after midnight and sets after sunrise.
Waning Gibbous
The moon has moved another quarter of the way around Earth, to the third quarter position. The sun’s light is now shining on the other half of the visible face of the moon. Waning crescent: Less than half of the moon’s face appears to be getting sunlight, and the amount is decreasing.
Last Quarter Moon
The Moon appears to be partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon’s disk that is illuminated is decreasing.
Waning Crescent
an eclipse in which the sun is obscured by the moon.
Solar Eclipse
an eclipse in which the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth’s shadow.
Lunar Eclipse
a small body of ice rock and cosmic dust that follows an elliptical orbit around the sun and that gives off gas and dust in the form of a tail as it passes close to the sun
Comet
a small rocky object that orbits the sun usually in a band between orbits of mars and jupiter
Asteroid
the regio of the solar system that is between the orbits of mars and jupiter and in which most asteroids orbit
Asteroid Belt
a realtively small rocky body that travels through spacem
Meteoroid
a meteroroid that reaches the earths surface without burning up completely
Meteorite
a bright streak of light that results when a meteroroid burns up in the earths atmosphere
Meteor
