Space, Earth, and Celestial Objects

Question 1

Astronomy

Answer 1

the study of the motions and properties of objects in space

Question 2

Celestial sphere

Answer 2

an imaginary sphere encircling the Earth on which all objects in the night sky appear

Question 3

Celestial Object

Answer 3

An object in the sky outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Includes the sun, moon, stars, and planets.

Question 4

Constellations

Answer 4

The patterns people have observed that mark the positions of stars in the sky.

Question 5

North Star

Answer 5

Polaris. (Located almost directly above the North Pole. Often used for navigation or finding local latitude).

Question 6

Geocentric model

Answer 6

An early model of the solar system and universe in which the Earth is a stationary object located at the center of the universe around which all celestial objects revolved.

Question 7

Heliocentric model

Answer 7

The modern model of the solar system and universe in which the planets revolve around the sun and the Earth undergoes daily rotation.

Question 8

Axis

Answer 8

The imaginary line around which an object rotates.

Question 9

Rotation

Answer 9

The spinning of a body around an internal axis. (Caused day&night for the Earth).

Question 10

Year

Answer 10

The time required for a planet (Earth) to complete one orbit around its primary (sun).

Question 11

Orbit

Answer 11

The path (usually an ellipse) of any satellite around its primary.

Question 12

Orbital Speed

Answer 12

The measure of a satellite’s orbital motion.

Question 13

Revolution

Answer 13

The orbital motion of a satellite around its primary. (Earth revolves around the sun yearly).

Question 14

Foucault Pendulum

Answer 14

A swinging weight that is free to rotate as it swings back and forth. The slow change in direction proves that Earth rotates.

Question 15

Apparent motion

Answer 15

The way celestial objects appear to move through the sky.

Question 16

Apparent Solar Day

Answer 16

The time required for the sun to go from its highest point in the sky on one day to its highest point the next day.

Question 17

Seasons

Answer 17

The annual cycle of weather conditions as the Earth orbits the sun.

Question 18

Zenith

Answer 18

The point on a celestial sphere that is directly overhead with respect to an observer.

Question 19

Equinox

Answer 19

The time at which the sun is directly above the equator, and all places on the Earth have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. (One at the end of March, one at the end of September).

Question 20

Solstice

Answer 20

The longest or shortest day (hours of daylight) of the year when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer or of Capricorn. One on Dec. 21, one on June 21.

Question 21

Direct rays

Answer 21

sunlight that strikes the Earth from straight overhead. (Vertical)

Question 22

Vertical rays

Answer 22

sunlight that strikes the Earth from directly overhead (the zenith). Strikes the Earth at a single location.