Space Exploration 1 Flashcards
Define solstice?
The longest and shortest days of the year
What is the geocentric model?
That earth is the center and everything else rotates around it
What is the heliocentric model?
That the sun was the center and everything else rotates around it.
Define Equinox?
When the sun is directly over the equator and day and night are equal.
When is summer solstice?
June 21st
When is winter solstice?
December 21st
When is Autumnal equinox?
September 22nd
When is vernal equinox?
March 21st
How many days does it take Earth to complete a full rotation around the sun?
365.25 days
Define AU
A measure of the distance between object in space
Define light year
How things in space are measured when they are too far for AU
What is the speed of light
300 000 km/s
What is the Hubble Space telescope
A reflecting telescope that orbits 600km above the earth
What are stars made of?
they are balls of gas that continuously emit light energy
What is the life cycle of a star?
Stellar Nebula — Sun-like stars — Red giant —White dwarf — black dwarf
Stellar nebula — Massive stars — Red super giant
— Supernova — Neutron stars or black hole
What is the main sequence?
When stars convert hydrogen to helium
Define nebulae
a cloud of gas and dust
Define supernova
A solar explosion caused when a residual start becomes dense
Define neutron star
It is the collapsed core left behind by a destroyed star, which spins rapidly
Define black hole
A highly dense left-overs of a star with gravity so strong that light cannot escape.
What is a Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Show the classification of the stars according to luminosity, spectral types, colour, temp, and evolutionary stage.
What is the difference between a constellation and an Asterism?
An asterism is just an unrecognized, unofficial constellation
What is a spectrescope?
Splits light up so you can see what colour it emits therefore knowing what it’s made of.
What are the three types of galaxies?
Spiral- flattened disc with spiral patterns in it
Eliptical- Smooth in appearance
Irregular- Have no definite shape. Stars form in clusters randomly distributed throughout the galaxy
Define white dwarf
A star beginning to fade
Define black dwarf
A star completely faded
Define meteoroid
A small piece of rock flying through space
Define meteor
A meteoroid once it enters the atmosphere
Define meteorite
A meteor if it reaches earths surface.
Define comet
Made of dust and ice which heat up and emit light when they get near the sun. The gasses appear as the comet’s tail.
Define asteroid
Bodies of rock orbiting between mars and Jupiter.
Define Azimuth
The compass direction with 0 degree due north. Tells you which way to point.
Define Altitude
Define Zenith
The highest point directly ahead
