Astronomy Unit Vocabulary Flashcards

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1
Q

Luminosity, objective, constant distance temperature & size determine the brightness of a star.

A

absolute magnitude

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2
Q

How bright an object looks from Earth, photometer measure, Hipparchus scale

A

apparent magnitude

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3
Q

microwave radiation that is a remnant of the big bang

A

background radiation

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4
Q

A theory for the end of the universe. The universe will expand so much that it will separate and not be able to continue forming since everything is separated. More widely accepted/proven theory.

A

Big chill

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5
Q

the theory for the end of universe that says universe will collapse back into a singularity.

A

big crunch

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6
Q

the name given to the mysterious force that’s causing the rate of expansion of our universe to accelerate over time, rather than to slow down.

A

dark energy

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7
Q

New moon and full moon cause maximum tide heights.

A

spring tide

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8
Q

1st quarter and 3rd quarter moons that create 90 degree angles cause minimum tide heights.

A

neap tides.

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9
Q

time between high and low tide. water level is decreasing

A

ebb tides

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10
Q

a type of figure that is similar to a circle but has two foci instead of one focus. an orbit takes this path.

A

ellipse

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11
Q

a planet that orbits a star that is not the sun

A

exoplanet

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12
Q

when the sea level is increasing.

A

flood tides

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13
Q

high tide- max height
ebb tides- decreasing
low tides- min. height
flood tides- increasing

A

ok

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14
Q

a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction. might include other heavenly bodies.

A

galaxy

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15
Q

when water levels reach their highest

A

high tide

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16
Q

nuclear fusion balances pressure with gravity

A

Hydrostatic equilibrium

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17
Q

the resistance to change in velocity e.g. earth rotation

A

inertia

18
Q

space between stars; the space where sun stops affecting things

A

interstellar space

19
Q

a planet’s orbit is an ellipse

A

Kepler’s first law

20
Q

objects go at different speeds at different points in their orbit

A

kepler’s 2nd law

21
Q

orbits that are closer move/orbit faster

A

Kepler’s 3rd law

22
Q

min height

A

Low tide

23
Q

earth’s natural satellite. reflects sun’s light. one of the causes of tides.

A

moon

24
Q

hydrogen atoms combine to become helium atoms and so on and forth.

A

Nuclear fusion

25
Q

the path that something takes when it moves around something else.

A

orbit

26
Q

a scale that goes from 0-1 that represents the shape of an orbit. 0: circle
1: straight line

A

orbital eccentricity

27
Q

balance between momentum and gravity

A

orbital equilibrium

28
Q

a celestial body

A

planet

29
Q

a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star.

A

satellite

30
Q

huge amt.(infinite) of matter in a small amt (almost zero) of volume

A

singularity

31
Q

gravitation-bound system of the Sun and the objects that orbit it. It formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant interstellar molecular cloud.

A

solar system

32
Q

robotic spacecraft that has no ppl. doesn’t orbit earth

A

space probe

33
Q

spreads light into different wavelengths. exposes the composition.

A

spectroscope

34
Q

a fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun.

A

star

35
Q

an explosion of a star that releases high energy such as gamma rays.

A

supernova

36
Q

the theory that a singularity exploded and created the universe through expansion.

A

the big bang

37
Q

vertical difference between high and low tide (double the amplitude)

A

tidal range

38
Q

rise and fall of the sea level

A

tides

39
Q

common way to discover exoplanets dip in light of stars by exoplanets blocking our view of it.

A

transit photometry

40
Q

time space matter
includes space matter and energy

A

universe