Vocabulary Flashcards
Solar system
The Sun and its family of orbiting planets and moons and other objects.
_
Galaxy
Millions and billions of stars held together in a group by their own
gravity. _
Orbit
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due
to gravity _
Universe
Space and all the matter and energy in it.
Satellite
An object that orbits a more massive object. _
Impact crater
A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object
strikes the surface_
Rotation
An imaginary line about which a turning body such as Earth rotates _
Revolution
The motion of one body around another, such as the Earth in its orbit
around the Sun _
Season
One of a pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends
over the course of a year _
Equinox
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives
the maximum sunlight _
Solstice
In an orbit, a position and time during which one hemisphere receives
the maximum sunlight _
Mare
A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon. _
Eclipse
. An event during which one object in space casts a shadow onto
another _
Umbra
The dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of complete
shadow cast by an object _
Penumbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region. _
Average distance from the sun which is 93,000,000 miles _
Astronomical unit(AU)
A oval or flattened circle
Ellipse
A planet that has a rocky surface
Terrestrial Planet
- A large planet that consists mostly of gases in a dense form
Gas Giant
Astronomical Unit
Average distance from the sun which is 93,000,000 miles
Asteroid
A small solid rocky body that orbits the Sun. _
A brief streak of light produced by a particle entering Earth’s
atmosphere at high speed. _
Meteor
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that
orbits the Sun _
Comet
A small object from outer space that passes through Earth’s
atmosphere and reaches the surface.
Meteorite
