Space Vocabulary Flashcards
Orbit
The circular part h of an object as it revolves around another object.
Solar system
The sun and its family of orbiting planets and other objects.
Galaxy
Millions and billions of stars held together by their own gravity.
Universe
Space and all the matter and energy in it.
Satellite
An object that orbits a more massive object.
Impact Crater
A round object left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object hits it.
Axis ofRotation
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as earth rotates.
Revolution
The motion of one body around another object such as earth.
Season
A period of a year determined by the position of earth as it revolves around the sun.
Season
One of a pattern of tempature changes over a course of a year.
Equinox
In an orbit where sun shines equally on both hemispheres .
Solstice
In an orbit a position and time during which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight.
Tide
The rise and fallof the ocean is caused by the moon
Mare
The large dark plain of lava on the moon.
Eclipse
An event where one object in space cast a shadow on another object.
Umbra
The dark central region of a shadow such as the complete shadow cast by an object.
Penumbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region
Astronomical Unit
Average distance from the sun which is 93 million miles.
Ellipse
An oval or flattened Circle.
Terrestrial Planet
A planet that has a rocky surface.
Gas giant
A large planet that consist of gasses in a dense form.
Asteroid
A small cold rocky body that orbits the sun.
Comet
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the sun.
Meteor
A brief streak of light that enters out atmosphere at high speeds.
