Space Vocabulary

Question 1

Orbit

Answer 1

The curved path, usually elliptical, described by a planet, satellite, spaceship, etc., around a celestial body, as the sun.

Question 2

Solar System

Answer 2

The sun together with all the planets and other bodies that revolve around it.

Question 3

Galaxy

Answer 3

A large system of stars held together by the mutual gravitation and isolated from similar systems by vast regions of stars.

Question 4

Universe

Answer 4

The totality of known or supposed objects and phenomena throughout space.

Question 5

Satellite

Answer 5

A natural that revolves around a planet

Question 6

Impact Crater

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Rotation

Answer 7

The movement or path of the earth or a heavenly body turning on its axis.

Question 8

Revolution

Answer 8

A turning round or rotating, as on an axis

Question 9

Season

Answer 9

One of four periods of the year, beginning astronomically at an equinox or solstice.

Question 10

Equinox

Answer 10

The time when the sun crosses the plane of the earths equator, making night and day or approximately equal length all over the earth.

Question 11

Solstice

Answer 11

Either of the two times a year when when the the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

Question 12

Mare

Answer 12

Any of the the several large, dark plains on the moon and Mars.

Question 13

Eclipse

Answer 13

A similar phenomenon with respect to any other planet and either its satellite or the sun.

Question 14

Umbra

Answer 14

The complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the direct light form the source is completely cut off.

Question 15

Penumbra

Answer 15

The grayish marginal portion of a sunspot.

Question 16

Astronomical Unit

Answer 16

A unit length, equal to the mean distance of the earth from the sun.

Question 17

Ellipse

Answer 17

The orbits of the planets and many comets.

Question 18

Terrestrial Planet

Answer 18

Any of the four planets closest to the sun.

Question 19

One of the four planets in our solar system that are composed chiefly of hydrogen and helium.

Answer 19

Gas Giant

Question 20

Asteroid

Answer 20

Any of thousands of small bodies of from 480 miles to less than one mile in diameter.

Question 21

Comet

Answer 21

A celestial body moving about the sun, usually in s highly eccentric orbit, consisting of a central mass surrounded by an envelope of dust and gas that may form a tail that streams away from the sun.

Question 22

Meteor

Answer 22

A meteoroid that has entered the ash’s atmosphere.

Question 23

Meteorite

Answer 23

A mass of stone or metal that has reached the earth from outer space.

Question 24

Geocentric

Answer 24

Using the earth or earthy life as the only basis of evaluation.

Question 25

Heliocentric

Answer 25

Measured or considered as being seen from the center of the sun.

Question 26

Gravity

Answer 26

The. Force of attraction by which terrestrial bodies tend to fall toward the center of the earth.

Question 27

Quarter Moon

Answer 27

Half of the moon is illuminated

Question 28

New Moon

Answer 28

The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated

Question 29

Crescent Moon

Answer 29

The illuminated surface is less than a quarter moon.

Question 30

Gibbous Moon

Answer 30

More than half but less than fully illuminated

Question 31

Tide

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Waning

Answer 32

The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon.

Question 33

Full Moon

Answer 33

The entire surface of the moon is illuminated

Question 34

Axis of Rotation

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Waxing

Answer 35

The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon.