Space

Question 1

the circular path of an object as it revolves around another object

Answer 1

Orbit

Question 2

a system of objects that revolve around a star

Answer 2

Solar System

Question 3

a group of solar systems, dust, and gas held together by gravity; our solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy

Answer 3

Galaxy

Question 4

everything that exists in, on and around the Earth

Answer 4

Universe

Question 5

a natural or artificial object that revolves around another object in space

Answer 5

Satellite

Question 6

a large, bowl-shaped cavity in the ground or on the surface of a planet or the moon, typically one caused by an explosion or the impact of a meteorite or other celestial body.

Answer 6

Impact crater

Question 7

the spinning of a celestial body, such as a planet, around an axis

Answer 7

Rotation

Question 8

the orbiting of an object around another object

Answer 8

Revolution

Question 9

a period of the year determined by the position of Earth as it revolves around the sun

Answer 9

Season

Question 10

the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length

Answer 10

Equinox

Question 11

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.

Answer 11

Solstice

Question 12

are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth’s Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria

Answer 12

Mare

Question 13

an event whereby one astronomical body passes between two other astronomical bodies

Answer 13

Eclipse

Question 14

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.

Answer 14

Umbra

Question 15

the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.

Answer 15

Penumbra

Question 16

the mean distance from the center of the Earth to the center of the sun (about 149.6 million kilometers); used to measure distances in the solar system

Answer 16

Astronomical Unit

Question 17

a regular oval shape, traced by a point moving in a plane so that the sum of its distances from two other points (the foci) is constant, or resulting when a cone is cut by an oblique plane that does not intersect the base.

Answer 17

Ellipse

Question 18

telluric planet, or rocky planet is a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals. Within the Solar System, the terrestrial planets are the inner planets closest to the Sun, i.e. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

Answer 18

Terrestrial planet

Question 19

a large planet of relatively low density consisting predominantly of hydrogen and helium, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune.

Answer 19

Gas giant

Question 20

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a small rocky body orbiting the sun. Large numbers of these, ranging in size from nearly 600 miles (1,000 km) across (Ceres) to dust particles, are found (as the asteroid belt ) especially between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, though some have more eccentric orbits, and a few pass close to the earth or enter the atmosphere as meteors.

Answer 20

Astroid

Question 21

a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.

Answer 21

Comet

Question 22

a small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth’s atmosphere, becoming incandescent as a result of friction and appearing as a streak of light.

Answer 22

Meteor

Question 23

a meteor that survives its passage through the earth’s atmosphere such that part of it strikes the ground. More than 90 percent of meteorites are of rock, while the remainder consist wholly or partly of iron and nickel.

Answer 23

Meteorite

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Geocentric

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Heliocentric

Question 26

the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other physical body having mass. For most purposes Newton’s laws of gravity apply, with minor modifications to take the general theory of relativity into account.

Answer 26

Gravity

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Tide

Question 28

cover or treat (something) with wax or a similar substance, typically to polish or protect it.

Answer 28

Waxing

Question 29

the moon at any time after full moon and before new moon (so called because its illuminated area is decreasing). Expand. Also called old moon. Compare waxing moon. Origin of waning moon.

Answer 29

Waning