Space Flashcards
Orbit
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity
Tide
The rise and fall of the oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun
Solar System
The Sun and its family of orbiting planets and moons and other objects
Galaxy
Millions and billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity
Universe
Space and all the matter and energy in it
Satellite
An object that orbits a more massive object
Impact Crater
A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface
Axis of Rotation
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as Earth rotates
Revolution
The motion of one body around another, such as the Earth in its orbit around the Sun
Season
One of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of a year
Equinox
In an orbit, a position and time in which Sun shines equally on both hemispheres
Solstice
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight or darkness
Mare
A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon
Eclipse
An event during whine one object in space casts a shadow onto another
Umbra
The dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object
Penumbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region
Astronomical Unit
Average distance from the sun which is 93,000,000 miles
Ellipse
An oval or flattened circle
Terrestrial Planet
A planet that has a rocky surface
Gas Giant
A large planet that consists mostly of gases in a dense form
Asteroid
A small solid rocky body that orbits the sun
Comet
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the Sun
Meteor
A brief stream of light produced by a particle entering Earth’s atmosphere at high speed
Meteorite
A small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface
