Space Science Vocabulary

Question 1

The sun and its family of orbiting planets, moons and other objects.

Answer 1

Solar system

Question 2

Millions or billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity.

Answer 2

Galaxy

Question 3

Space and all the matter and energy in it.

Answer 3

Universe

Question 4

An object that orbits a more massive object.

Answer 4

Satellite

Question 5

A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet or other body in space after a smaller object strikes the surface.

Answer 5

Impact crater

Question 6

An imaginary line about which a turning body, such as Earth rotates.

Answer 6

Axis of rotation

Question 7

The motion of one body around another, such as Earth in its orbit around the sun; the time it takes to go around once.

Answer 7

Revolution

Question 8

One part of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of a year. Astronomical seasons are defined and caused by the position of Earth’s axis relative to the direction of sunlight.

Answer 8

Season

Question 9

In an orbit, a position and time in which sunlight shines equally on the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere; a time of year when daylight and darkness are nearly equal for most of the Earth.

Answer 9

Equinox

Question 10

In an orbit, a position and time during which one Hemisphere gets its maximum area of sunlight, while the other Hemisphere gets its minimum amount; the time of year when days are eather longest or shortest, and the angle of sunlight reaches its maximum or minimum.

Answer 10

Solstice

Question 11

A large, dark plain of solidified lava on the Moon. The plural form of Mare, is Maria.

Answer 11

Mare

Question 12

An event during which one object in space casts a shadow onto another. On Earth, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves through Earth’s shadow, and a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s shadow crosses Earth.

Answer 12

Eclipse

Question 13

The dark, central region of a shadow, such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object.

Answer 13

Umbra

Question 14

A region of lighter shadow that may surround an umbra; for example, the spreading cone of lighter shadow cast by a space object.

Answer 14

Penumbra

Question 15

Earth’s average distance from the Sun, which is approximately 150 million kilometers. (93 million miles)

Answer 15

Astronomical Unit (AU)

Question 16

An oval or flattened circle.

Answer 16

Ellipse

Question 17

Earth or a planet similar to Earth that has a rocky surface. The four planets in the inner solar system- Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars- are terrestrial planets.

Answer 17

Terrestrial planet

Question 18

A large planet that consists of mostly gases in a dense form. The four large planets in the outer solar system-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-are gas giants.

Answer 18

Gas giant

Question 19

A small, solid, rocky body that orbits around the Sun. Most asteroids orbit in a region between Mars and Jupiter called the asteroid belt.

Answer 19

Asteroid

Question 20

A body that produces a coma of gas and dust; a small, icy body that orbits around the sun.

Answer 20

Comet

Question 21

A brief streak of light produced by a small particle entering Earth’s atmosphere at a high speed.

Answer 21

Meteor

Question 22

A small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s atmosphere at a high speed.

Answer 22

Meteorite

Question 23

Relating to, measured from, or as observed from the Earth’s center.

Answer 23

Geocentric

Question 24

Referred to or measured from the Sun’s center or appearing as if seem from it.

Answer 24

Heliocentric

Question 25

The force that objects exert on each other because of their mass.

Answer 25

Gravity

Question 26

The regular upward or downward movement of the level of the ocean that is cause by the pull of the Sun and Moon on the Earth.

Answer 26

Tide

Question 27

The moon, at any time after the new moon, and before the full moon, so called because it’s illuminated area is increasing.

Answer 27

Waxing

Question 28

Where the moon is less than half illuminated.

Answer 28

Waning

Question 29

More than half, but less than fully illuminated from the point of view from an observer.

Answer 29

Gibbous moon

Question 30

A moon part way between a half moon, and a full moon.

Answer 30

Crescent moon

Question 31

The phase of the moon which its whole disk is illuminated.

Answer 31

Full moon

Question 32

The phase of the moon when it is in conjunction with the sun, and invisible from earth. There shortly after when it appears as a slender crescent.

Answer 32

New moon

Question 33

Where the moon is one-half illuminated.

Answer 33

Quarter moon

Question 34

The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity; for example, the moon moves in an orbit around the Earth.

Answer 34

Orbit