Space Flashcards
Orbit
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity.
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
Mare
A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon.
Eclipse
An event during which 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 streak of light produced by a particle entering earths atmosphere at high speed
Meteorite
A small object from outer space that passes through earths atmosphere and reaches the surface.
Geocentric
Earth centered theory of the solar system
Heliocentric
A Sun centered theory of the universe
Gravity
The force that objects exert on one another because of their mass.
Tide
The rise and fall of the oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun
Waxing
The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon
Waning
The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon
Gibbous moon
More than Half but less than fully illuminated
Crescent moon
The illuminated surface is less than a quarter illuminated
Full moon
The entire surface of the moon is fully illuminated
New moon
The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated
Quarter moon
Half of the moon is illuminated
