Space Vocab

Question 1

Orbit

Answer 1

The path of an object in space as it moves around another object due to gravity.

Question 2

Solar system

Answer 2

The sun and its family of orbiting planets, moons, and other objects.

Question 3

Galaxy

Answer 3

Millions and billions of stars held together in a group by their own gravity.

Question 4

Universe

Answer 4

Space and all of the matter or energy in it.

Question 5

Satellite

Answer 5

A object that orbits a more massive object.

Question 6

Impact crater

Answer 6

A round pit left behind on the surface of a planet after a smaller object strikes the surface.

Question 7

Rotation

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Revolution

Answer 8

The motion of one body around another, such as the earth in its orbit around the sun.

Question 9

Season

Answer 9

A period of the year determined by the position of earth as it revolves around the sun.

Question 10

Equinox

Answer 10

In an orbit, a position and time in which sun shines equally on both hemispheres.

Question 11

Solstice

Answer 11

In an orbit , a position and time in which one hemisphere receives the maximum sunlight.

Question 12

Mare

Answer 12

A large dark plain of solidified lava on the moon.

Question 13

Eclipse

Answer 13

An event that happens when the shadow of an object in space falls on the surface of another object.

Question 14

Umbra

Answer 14

The dark central region of a shadow such as the cone of complete shadow cast by an object.

Question 15

Penumbra

Answer 15

A region of lighter shadow that may surround a dark central region.

Question 16

Astronomical unit

Answer 16

distance from the center of the Earth to the center of the sun (about 93 million miles)

Question 17

Ellipse

Answer 17

An oval or flattened circle.

Question 18

Terrestrial planet

Answer 18

A planet that has a rocky surface.

Question 19

Gas giant

Answer 19

A large planet that consists mostly of gasses, such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune.

Question 20

Asteroid

Answer 20

a small object made of rock or metal that orbits the sun

Question 21

Comet

Answer 21

A body that produces a coma of gas and dust, a small icy body that orbits the sun.

Question 22

Meteor

Answer 22

a streak of light in the sky produced by a particle entering earths atmosphere at high speed.

Question 23

Meteorite

Answer 23

A small object from outer space that passes through earths atmosphere and reaches Earth’s surface

Question 24

Geocentric

Answer 24

Earth centered theory of the solar system.

Question 25

Heliocentric

Answer 25

A sun centered theory of the universe.

Question 26

Gravity

Answer 26

The force that objects exert on one another because of their mass.

Question 27

Tide

Answer 27

the rise and fall of the ocean’s due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon.

Question 28

Waxing

Answer 28

The gradual increase of the illuminated surface of the moon.

Question 29

Wanning

Answer 29

The gradual decrease in the illuminated surface of the moon.

Question 30

Gibbous moons

Answer 30

More than half but less than fully illuminated.

Question 31

Crescent moon

Answer 31

The illuminated surface is less than a quarter illuminated.

Question 32

Full moon

Answer 32

Entire surface is illuminated.

Question 33

New moon

Answer 33

The entire surface is not illuminated.

Question 34

Quarter moon

Answer 34

Half of the moon is illuminated.