Space Vocabulary Flashcards
Half of the moons surface is illuminated
Quarter moon
The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated
New moon
The entire surface of the moon is illuminated
Full moon
the illuminated surface is less than a quarter illuminated
Crescent moon
More than half but less than fully illuminated
Gibbous moon
The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon
Waning
the gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon
Waxing
the rise and fall of the ocean levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon
Tide
the force that objects exert on one another because of their mass.
Gravity
A sun centered theory of the solar system
Heliocentric
Earth centered theory of the solar system
Geocentric
A small object from outer space that passes through Earths atmosphere and reaches the surface
Meteorite
A brief streak of light produced by a particle entering Earths atmosphere at high speed
Meteor
a body that produce a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the sun
Comet
a small solid rocky body that orbits the Sun.
Asteroid
A large planet that consists mostly of gases in a dense form.
Gas giant
A planet that has a rocky surface
Terrestrial planet
An oval or flattened circle
Ellipse
Average distance from the sun which is approximately 93,000,00 miles or 150 million kilometers
Astronomical unit
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region. The spreading cone of lighter shadow cast by an object
Penumbra
The dark central region of a shadow, such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object
Umbra
an event during which one object in space casts a shadow onto another
Eclipse
a large, dark, plain of solidified lava on the moon
Mare
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere revives it maximum area of sunlight while the other
Solstice
In an orbit, a position and time in which sunlight shines equally on the Northern and Summer Hemispheres.
Equinox
One part of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of a year
Season
The motion of one body around another, such as the Earth in its orbit around the Sun.
Revolution
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as the Earth rotates
Axis of rotation
A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet or other body in space after a smaller object strikes the surface
Impact crater
An object that orbits a more massive object
Satellite
Space and all the matter and energy in it.
Universe
Millions or billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity
Galaxy
Our solar system consists of an average star we call the Sun, the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. It includes: the satellites of the planets; numerous comets, asteroids, and meteoroids; and the interplanetary medium.
Solar system
the path of an object as it revolves around another object due to gravity
Orbit
