Space Flashcards
Geosynchronous
Same rate, same time travelling same speed as earth in the same direction
in same orbit as earth!!
Satellite
A small body that orbits a larger one
Satellites may be natural like a moon orbiting a planet or artificial such as space craft put into space by humans
Polar orbiting
Different orbit then earths
Asteroid
Small rocky bodies orbiting the sun and lying mainly in a narrow belt between mars and Jupiter
Meteoroid
A solid body usually a fragment of rock or metal travelling in space with no particular path
Meteor
A meteoroid that has entered earths atmosphere where the heat of fri ruin causes if to glow brightly
Meteorite
The remains of a meteor that do not burn up completely and so last long enough to hit earths surface
Comet
A celestial body composed if dust and ice that orbits the sun; they have bright centers and long faint tails that point away from the sun
Stars
A hot glowing body of gas that gives off tremendous light energy
Asterism
Example: Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major
A distinct star grouping that is not recognized as one of the 88 constellations
Constellation
Grouping of stars that form patterns in the night sky
There are 88 official constellations
Galaxy
A grouping if stars, gas, dust and planets all held together by gravity
Types if galaxies
Spiral (our galaxy the Milky Way)
Irregular
Elliptical
Random
Altitude
Angle up from the horizon
Azimuth
Direction from north
Compass direction goes clockwise
North is 0 and south is 180
Zenith
90 degrees above you
Right above you
Native American idea
A blanket covered the sky at night with holes cut out ( stars) and these was held on a girl called stone ribs
Wavelength
From peak to peak on each wave
Frequency
How often a wave occurs
EMR spectrum
High frequency Short waves Gamma Cosmic X-ray Uv Light (roygibv backward ) Infrared Microwaves T.V waves Radio waves Low frequency long waves
Radio telescope
Massive telescopes collect and detect waves that aren’t visible to the naked eye
Massive in size MASSIVE
Quasar
A massive and extremely remote celestial object that emits large amounts of energy and has star like qualities: not a star!! It has a black hole at the center
Black hole
A super dense black hole occurs after a supernova and sucks up everything!! This is what happens at the end of a really big star
Interferometry
Multiple telescopes to combine resolution to make big pretty pictures
