Space Vocab

Question 1

The Sun and its family of orbiting planets and moons and other objects.

Answer 1

Solar system

Question 2

Millions and 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

A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface

Answer 4

Impact crater

Question 5

The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity

Answer 5

An orbit

Question 6

An object that orbits a more massive object.

Answer 6

Satellite

Question 7

One of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of a year

Answer 7

Season

Question 8

The motion of one body around another, such as the Earth in its orbit around the Sun

Answer 8

Revolution

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Axis

Question 10

In an orbit, a position and time in which sun shines equally on both hemispheres.

Answer 10

Equinox

Question 11

In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight

Answer 11

Solstice

Question 12

A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon.

Answer 12

Mare

Question 13

An event during which one object in space casts a shadow onto another

Answer 13

Eclipse

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Umbra

Question 15

A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region.

Answer 15

Penumbra

Question 16

Average distance from the sun which is 93,000,000 miles

Answer 16

Astronomical unit

Question 17

An oval or flattened circle.

Answer 17

Ellipse

Question 18

A planet that has a rocky surface.

Answer 18

Terrestrial planet

Question 19

A large planet that consists mostly of gases in a dense form

Answer 19

Gas giant

Question 20

A small solid rocky body that orbits the Sun.

Answer 20

Asteroids

Question 21

A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the Sun

Answer 21

Comet

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Meteor

Question 23

A small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface.

Answer 23

Meteorite

Question 24

Earth-centered theory of the solar system

Answer 24

Geocentric

Question 25

Sun-centered theory of the universe.

Answer 25

Heliocentric

Question 26

The force that objects exert on one another because of their mass.

Answer 26

Gravity

Question 27

The rise and fall of the oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

Answer 27

Tide

Question 28

The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon.

Answer 28

Waxing

Question 29

The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon.

Answer 29

Wanning

Question 30

More than half but less than fully illuminated

Answer 30

Gibbous

Question 31

The entire surface of the moon is illuminated.

Answer 31

Full moon

Question 32

The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated.

Answer 32

New moon

Question 33

The illuminated surface is less than a quarter illuminated.

Answer 33

Crescent moon

Question 34

Half of the moon is illuminated.

Answer 34

Quarter moon