MidTerm Review Guide Flashcards
(51 cards)
A spherical representation or map of the fxed stars we see in the sky; divided into 88 regions called constellations.
celestial sphere
Te axis of the earth points at these northernmost and southernmost points on the celestial sphere.
celestial poles
If the earth’s equator was projected out into space, the line it would make on the celestial sphere is the _____________
celestial equator
The path the sun takes through the celestial sphere over the course of a whole year; it is tilted in
respect to the celestial equator because Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5°.
ecliptic
Looking down on the north pole, the earth spins counterclockwise. Looking straight on at the earth, it spins in an eastward direction. Tis means the celestial sphere overhead moves in a westward direction from our perspective on Earth.
The direction of spin
A geographic coordinate that indicates the north-south position of a point on Earth, ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the north and south poles; your latitude position determines what part of the celestial sphere you see (for instance, standing at 90°N, the north pole, means the north celestial
pole will be at your zenith).
latitude lines
How bright a star really is if all stars were the same distance from us.
absolute magnitude
meaning before the middle of the day.
Ante Meridiem, A.M.
How bright a star appears in our sky.
apparent magnitude
the latitude line where the sun doesn’t set on the summer solstice
arctic circle
Te two days of the year when the sun rises and sets
on the celestial equator, making an equal amount of daylight and nighttime
Autumnal (Fall) and Vernal (Spring) Equinoxes
Te line around which the earth (or any planetary body) rotates.
axis
Te amount of time it takes for the earth to spin on its own axis one time.
day
Four largest moons of Jupiter: Europa, Io, Callisto, and Ganymede.
Galilean Moons
A model or understanding of the universe where the earth is at the center, and the
sun, moon, planets, and stars revolve around the earth.
geocentric model
From your perspective, the place where the sky meets the land.
horizon
A planet named afer the king-god of the Romans; the most massive, fastest spinning planet in
the solar system, with more moons than any other planet
Jupiter
A name for the region north of the arctic circle because the sun doesn’t
set during the summer months.
The land of the midnight sun
Te distance light travels in a year (about 5.8 trillion miles)
Light year
Te line on the celestial sphere going from due south, straight over your head through the
zenith, to due north; it means “middle of the day”
Meridian
A cloudy band circling the celestial sphere which is actually about 100 billion distant
stars in our galaxy
Milky Way Galaxy
A word meaning “wandering star;”
planet
the five classical planets
the five classical planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
meaning after the middle of the day
P.M. Post Meridiem
