Planet Vocab Flashcards
Orbit.
the circular or elliptical path of an object as it revolves around another object
Solar system
a system of objects that revolve around a star
Galaxy 🌌
a group of solar systems, dust, and gas held together by gravity; our solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy
Universe
everything that exists in, on and around the Earth
Satellite
The Moon is a natural satellite that orbits Earth. The planet Jupiter has many moons, four of which are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Artificial satellites are made by man and launched to orbit Earth and other planets.
Impact crater
An impact crater is an approximately circular depression in the surface of a planet, moon, or other solid body in the Solar System or elsewhere, formed by the hypervelocity impact of a smaller body.
Rotation
the spinning of a celestial body, such as a planet, around an axis
Revolution
the orbiting of an object around another object
Season
a period of the year determined by the position of Earth as it revolves around the sun
Equinox
the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length (about September 22 and March 20).
Solstice
either of the two times in the year, the summer solstice and the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days.
Mare
The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth’s Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for “seas”, by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas.
Eclipse
an event whereby one astronomical body passes between two other astronomical bodies
Umbra
the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object, especially the area on the earth or moon experiencing the total phase of an eclipse.
Penumbra
The partially shaded region of a shadow cast by an opaque