Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Science Vocab > Space Vocabulary > Flashcards

Space Vocabulary Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Orbit

A

the circular path of an object as it revolves around another object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Solar System

A

a system of objects that revolve around a star

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Galaxy

A

a group of solar systems, dust, and gas held together by gravity; our solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Universe

A

everything that exists in, on and around the Earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Satellite

A

a natural or artificial object that revolves around another object in space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Impact Crater

A

a crater on a planet or moon caused by the impact of a meteorite or other object, typically circular with a raised rim.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Axis of Rotation

A

A rotation is a circular movement of an object around a center (or point) of rotation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Revolution

A

the orbiting of an object around another object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Season

A

a period of the year determined by the position of Earth as it revolves around the sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Equinox

A

In an orbit, a potion and time in which sunlight shines equally on the northern and Southern Hemispheres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Solstice

A

In an orbit, a potion and time during which one hemisphere receives it maximum area of sunlight while the other hemisphere receives it minimum amount the time of the year when the days are longer or shorter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Mare

A

A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Eclipse

A

an event whereby one astronomical body passes between two other astronomical bodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Umbra

A

the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object, especially the area on the earth or moon experiencing the total phase of an eclipse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Penumbra

A

the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Astronomical Unit (AU)

A

An Astronomical Unit is the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun

17
Q

Ellipse

A

a regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points (the foci) is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane that does not intersect the base.

18
Q

Terrestrial Planet

A

A terrestrial planet, telluric planet, or rocky planet is a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals

19
Q

Gas Giant

A

A large, massive, low-density planet composed primarily of hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia in either gaseous or liquid state.

20
Q

Asteroid

A

a small object made of rock or metal that orbits the sun

21
Q

Comet

A

a body of ice and dust that travels in a long narrow orbit around the sun

22
Q

Meteor

A

a streak of light in the sky that forms when a piece of rock from space burns up in Earth’s atmosphere (related term: shooting star)

23
Q

Meteorite

A

a piece of rock or metal from space that strikes Earth’s surface

24
Q

Geocentric

A

having the Earth as the center

25
Q

Heliocentric

A

having the sun as the center

26
Q

Gravity

A

a force that exists between any two objects that have mass (related word: gravitational)

27
Q

Tide

A

the rise and fall of the ocean’s surface levels due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon (related word: tidal)

28
Q

Waxing

A

the moon at any time after new moon and before full moon, so called because its illuminated area is increasing. Compare waning moon

29
Q

Wanig

A

the moon at any time after full moon and before new moon (so called because its illuminated area is decreasing)

30
Q

Gibbous Moon

A

refers to the phase of the moon’s cycle when more than half but less than all of the moon is illuminated by the sun, making it visible from Earth.

31
Q

Crescent Moon

A

A crescent is a thin, curved shape that’s thicker in the middle and tapers to thin points at each end, like the little sliver of moon you might notice in the sky.

32
Q

Full Moon

A

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

33
Q

New Moon

A

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

34
Q

Quarter Moon

A

The moon is less than one-half illuminated by the sun but less than one quarter illuminated.

Science Vocab (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions