Vocab

Question 1

Solar system

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Galaxy

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Universe

Answer 3

Space and all the matter and energy in it.

Question 4

Satellite

Answer 4

An object that orbits a more massive object.

Question 5

Impact crater

Answer 5

A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet or other body in space after a smaller object strikes the surface.

Question 6

Axis of rotation

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Revolution

Answer 7

The motion of one body around each other, such as Earth in its orbit around the sun.

Question 8

Season

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Equinox

Answer 9

In an orbit, a position in time in which the sunlight shines equally on the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 10

Solstice

Answer 10

In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere gets its maximum amount of sunlight, while the other hemisphere gets its least amount.

Question 11

Mare

Answer 11

A large, dark plain of solidified lava on the moon.

Question 12

Eclipse

Answer 12

An event during 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 an umbra.

Question 15

Astronomical Unit

Answer 15

Earths average distance from the sun, which is approximately 150 million kilometers.

Question 16

Ellipse

Answer 16

An oval or flattened circle.

Question 17

Terrestrial planet

Answer 17

Earth or a planet similar to earth that has a rocky surface.

Question 18

Gas giant

Answer 18

A large planet that consists mostly of gases in an dense form.

Question 19

Asteroid

Answer 19

A small, solid, rocky body that orbits the sun.

Question 20

Comet

Answer 20

A body that produces a coma of gas and dust.

Question 21

Meteor

Answer 21

A brief streak of light produced by a small particle entering Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds

Question 22

Meteorite

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Geocentric

Answer 23

Having or representing the earth as a center, as in former astronomical systems.

Question 24

Heliocentric

Answer 24

Having or representing the sun as a center, as in the accepted astronomical model of the solar system.

Question 25

Gravity

Answer 25

The force that objects exert on each other because of their mass.

Question 26

Tide

Answer 26

The alternate rising and falling of the sea, usually twice each lunar day at a particular place, due to the attraction of the moon and sun.

Question 27

Waxing

Answer 27

The moon at any time after the new moon and before the full moon, so called because it’s illuminated area is increasing.

Question 28

Orbit

Answer 28

The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity. For example the moon moves in orbit around earth.

Question 29

Waning

Answer 29

Have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.

Question 30

Gibbous moon

Answer 30

More than half, less than full.

Question 31

Crescent moon

Answer 31

Between a half moon and a new moon.

Question 32

Full moon

Answer 32

The phase when the whole moon is illuminated.

Question 33

New moon

Answer 33

The phase when it is invisible from the earth.

Question 34

Quarter moon

Answer 34

It is one half illuminated by the sun.