Space Flashcards
the path of an object as it revolves around another object due to gravity
Orbit
The sun and its orbiting planets and moons and other objects
Solar System
Millions and billions of stars held together by their own gravity
Galaxy
Space and all the matter and energy in it
Universe
An object that orbits a more massive object
Satellite
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as Earth rotates
Axis of 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 the other weather trends over the course of a year
Season
In a orbit, a position and time in which sun equally shines on both hemispheres
Equinox
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight or darkness
Solstice
A large, dark plain of solidified lava on the surface of the moon
Mare
an event whereby one object in space casts a shadow on another
Eclipse
the average distance from the sun which is 93 million miles
Astronomical Unit
A round pit left on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface
Impact Crater
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
Geocentric
A sun centered theory of the Universe
Heliocentric
A force that objects exert on one another because of their mass
Gravity
the rise and fall of the ocean’s surface levels due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon
Tide
The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon
Waxing
The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon
Waning
More than half but less than fully illuminated
Gibbous
The illuminated surface is less than a quarter illuminated
Crescent
Entire surface is illuminated
Full moon
Entire surface isn’t illuminated
New moon
The dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of the complete shadow cast by an object
Umbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region
Penumbra
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
Half the surface is illuminated
Quarter Moon
