Space Vocabulary

Question 1

Orbit

Answer 1

The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity

Question 2

Solar system

Answer 2

The sun and its family of orbiting planets, moons, and other objects

Question 3

Galaxy

Answer 3

Millions and billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity

Question 4

Universe

Answer 4

Space, and all of the matter and energy in it

Question 5

Impact crater

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Rotation

Answer 6

Something turning around on an axis

Question 7

Revolution

Answer 7

The motion of one body around another, such as the Earth in its orbit around the sun

Question 8

Season

Answer 8

One of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of the year

Question 9

Equinox

Answer 9

The time or date twice a year when day and night are exactly the same.

Question 10

Solstice

Answer 10

The day twice a year when day is at its shortest or longest

Question 11

Mare

Answer 11

A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon

Question 12

Eclipse

Answer 12

An event in which one object in space casts a shadow onto another

Question 13

Umbra

Answer 13

The dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object

Question 14

Penumbra

Answer 14

A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region

Question 15

Astronomical unit

Answer 15

The distance between the Earth and the sun

Question 16

Ellipse

Answer 16

An oval or flattened circle

Question 17

Terrestrial planet

Answer 17

A planet made out of rock

Question 18

Gas giant

Answer 18

A large planet that consists mostly of gases in a dense form

Question 19

Asteroid

Answer 19

A small object made out of rock or metal that orbits the sun

Question 20

Comet

Answer 20

A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the sun

Question 21

Meteorite

Answer 21

A small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface

Question 22

Quarter Moon

Answer 22

Half of the moon is illuminated

Question 23

New Moon

Answer 23

The entire surface of the moon is not illuminated

Question 24

Crescent Moon

Answer 24

The illuminated surface is less than a quarter illuminated

Question 25

Gibbous Moon

Answer 25

More than half but less than fully illuminated

Question 26

Heliocentric Theory

Answer 26

A sun centered theory of the universe

Question 27

Tide

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Waning

Answer 28

The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon

Question 29

Geocentric Theory

Answer 29

Earth centered theory of the solar system

Question 30

Gravity

Answer 30

The force that objects exert on one another because of their mass

Question 31

Full Moon

Answer 31

The entire surface of the moon is illuminated

Question 32

Satellite

Answer 32

An object that orbits a more massive object

Question 33

Axis of rotation

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Waxing

Answer 34

The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon

Question 35

Perihelion

Answer 35

The time which a planet is closest to the sun

Question 36

Aphelion

Answer 36

The time which a planet is farthest away from the sun