Space Cards L4 Flashcards
What is a satellite?
An object that orbits a star or planet
Name a natural satellite
The moon
Name an artificial satellite
ISS, any communication satellite
How do we see the moon?
Light reflects from the Sun into our eyes
What is a solar system?
A group of objects (including planets) that orbit a star
What is a comet?
Lumps of ice that orbit the Sun
What is a meteor?
Dust and rock that orbit the sun
What is a meteorite?
A meteor that lands on Earth
What is a galaxy?
A collection of billions of stars and planets
Which galaxy are we in?
The Milky Way
What is our nearest galaxy
Andromeda
Billions of galaxies make up the ?
Universe
What is the name given to a squashed circle?
Ellipse
Name the planets in order
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What are the outer planets called?
Gas giants
State two features of the gas planets
They are large and they are cold
What are the inner planets called?
Terrestrial planets
State one feature of the terresterial planets
They are made of rock
What is the asteroid belt made of?
Pieces of rock
Where is the asteroid belt found?
Between Mars and Jupiter
What is a day?
The time taken for a planet to spin on it’s axis
How long is a day on Earth?
24 hours
What is a year?
The time taken for a planet to orbit the Sun
How long is a year on Earth?
365 days (and a quarter!)
Where does the Sun rise?
East
Where does the Sun set?
West
Is the Sun higher in the sky in winter or summer?
Summer
What causes the different seasons?
The Earth being tilted towards the Sun (summer) or the Earth being tilted away from the Sun (winter)
Why is it warmer in summer?
As the Earth is tilted towards the Sun, the rays are more concentrated
What do scientists call a group of stars?
Constellation
Why does the moon change shape?
As the moon rotates around the Earth, we see different amounts of the Sun being reflected off the moon
Name the four key phases of the moon
New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, Third Quarter
Why does a solar eclipse occur?
As the moon blocks light from the Sun
What is the umbra?
The shadow where you will see a total eclipse
What is the penumbra?
The shadow where you will see a partical eclipse
Why does a lunar eclipse occur?
As the Earth blocks light from the Sun
