Space Vocab Flashcards
(34 cards)
Orbit
The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity.
Solar system
The sun and its family of orbiting planets, moons, and other objects.
Galaxy
Millions and billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity.
Universe
Space and all of the matter or energy in it.
Satellite
A object that orbits a more massive object.
Impact crater
A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface.
Rotation
The spinning of a celestial body, such as a planet, around an axis.
Revolution
The motion of one body around another, such as the earth in its orbit around the sun.
Season
A period of the year determined by the position of earth as it revolves around the sun.
Equinox
In an orbit, a position and time in which sun shines equally on both hemispheres.
Solstice
In an orbit , a position and time in which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight.
Mare
A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon.
Eclipse
An event that happens when the shadow of an object in space falls on the surface of another object.
Umbra
The dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object.
Penumbra
A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region.
Astronomical unit
distance from the center of the Earth to the center of the sun (about 93 million miles)
Ellipse
An oval or flattened circle.
Terrestrial planet
A planet that has a rocky surface.
Gas giant
A large planet that consists mostly of gasses, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune.
Asteroid
a small object made of rock or metal that orbits the sun
Comet
A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the sun.
Meteor
a streak of light in the sky produced by a particle entering earths atmosphere at high speed.
Meteorite
A small object from outer space that passes through earths atmosphere and reaches Earth’s surface
Geocentric
Earth centered theory of the solar system.
