Vocabulary Flashcards
Season
A pattern of temperature changes and other weather trends over the course of the year
Equinox
At an Equinox sunlight shines equally on the northern and Southern Hemispheres
Orbit
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object because of its gravity
Solar system
The sun,planets and various smaller bodies make this up
Universe
Space and all the matter in it
Satellite
An object that orbits a more massive object
Impact crater
When an object strikes the surface of a larger object in space it explodes and leaves behind a round pit called
Mare
Large dark Baltic plains on earths moons
Gas giants
Mainly made of hydrogen helium and other gases
Eclipse
Occurs when a shadow makes the sun or moon seem to grow dark
Terrestrial planet
The planets closest to the sun
Umbra
The darkest part
Comet
An object that produces a coma
Asteroids
Small solid rocks bodies that orbit close to the sun
Meteorite
A space object that that reaches earths surface
Geocentric
Measured from or considered in relation to the center of the earth
Meteors
Brief strike of light
Gravity
The force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth
Tide
Periodic rises and falls of large bodies of water
Waxing
The moon at any time after the new moon and before the full moon
Waning
Part of the moons visible surface illuminated so that it appears to decrease size
Gibbous moon
The phrase where the moon is more than half illuminated
Full moon
The phrase where the whole moon is illuminated
New moon
The pause where the moon is invisible from earth
