Topic 12 Beyond the Solar System Flashcards
Collection of stars held together by their mutual gravity
Galaxy
The galaxy where our Solar system is situated.
The Milky Way
The shape of the Milky Way
Spiral shaped
Magnetic storms that make areas that are cooler, on the Sun’s surface.
Sunspots
Enormous explosions on the Sun’s surface
Sun flares
The nearest star to the Earth
The Sun
The closest neighbouring star system
Alpha Centauri
Are light years measures of time or distance?
Distance
The speed of light
300 000 km per second
The brighter of the two pointers of the Southern Cross constellation
Alpha Centauri
The three stars that make up the Alpha Centauri star system
Alpha Centuari A, Alpha Centauri B, Proxima Centauri
The Scientist who discovered galaxies
Edwin Hubble
Infinite mass of nothingness with immensely powerful gravity: able to suck up everything in its way
Black Hole
The distance light travels in 1 year
Light year
The distance between Proxima Centauri and the Earth
3.9 light years
