Space Vocab Flashcards
the path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity
Orbit
The sun and family of orbiting planets and moons and other objects
Solar system
Millions or billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity
Galaxy
Space and all matter and energy in it
Universe
An object that orbits a more massive object
Satellite
A round pit left behind on a surface of a planet or other body in space after a smaller object strikes the surface
Impact crater
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as earth rotates
Axis of rotation
The motion of one body around another, such as earth in its orbit around the sun
Revolution
One part of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of time
Season
In an orbit, a position and time in which sunlit shines equally on both the northern and southern hemisphere a time where daylight and darkness are equal for most parts of earth
Equinox
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives a maximum area of sunlight while the other hemisphere receives the minimum time of year when days are longest or shortest
Solstice
A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon
Mare
An event during which one object in space cast a shadow onto another
Eclipse
the dark central region of a shadow such as a cone of complete shadow cast by an object
Umbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region, the spreading cone of lighter shadow cast by an object
Penumbra
Average distance from the sun approximately 93,000,000 to 150 million kilometers
Astronomical unit (AU)
An oval or flattened circle
Ellipse
a planet with a rocky surface
Terrestrial planet
A large planet that consists mostly gases in a dense form
Gas giant
a small solid rocky body that orbits the sun
Asteroid
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust , a small icy body that orbits the sun
Comet
A brief streak of light produced by a particle entering earths atmosphere at high speed
Meteor
A small object from outer space that passes through earths atmosphere and reaches the surface
Meteorite
Earth centered theory of the solar system
Geocentric
