Science
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Created by:
Nichols1995 on May 26, 2010
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61 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 absolute magnitude | a measure of the amoumt of light that a star actually emits. |
| apparent magnitude | a measure of the amount of light from a star that is received on earth. |
| asteroid | a piece of rock similar to material that formed into planets, usually found in the asteroid belt. |
| axis | imaginary virtical line that cuts through the center of earth and around which earth spins. |
| big bang theory | states that approximately 12 to 15 billion years ago, that formation of the universe began with a fiery explosion. |
| black hole | remnant of a star that is so dense that nothing, not even light, can escape its gravity field. |
| chromosphere | layer of the suns atmosphere found above the photosphere and below the transition zone and corona. |
| comet | a mass that travels through space and is composed of rock particles and dust mixed with frozen water, methane, and ammonia, tends to vaporize and break up after passing close to the sun many times. |
| constellation | a grupe of stars that forms a pattern resembling a familiar object, character, or animal, and that changes position throughout the year because earth moves |
| corona | largest layer of the suns atmosphere from which charged particles contimually escape into space. |
| earth | third planet from the sun, its atmosphere protects life and its surface temperatures allow water to exist as a solid, liquid and gas. |
| electromagnetic spectrum | arrangement of electromagnetic radiation including radio waves, visible light from the sun, gamma rays, x rays, ultraviolet waves, infrared waves, and microwaves-according to their wavelengths. |
| ellipse | elongated, closed curve that describes earths yearlong orbit around the sun |
| equinox | twice-yearly time, each spring and fall, when the sun is directly over the equator and the number of daylight and nighttime hours are equal worldwide. |
| full moon | phase that occurs when all of the moons surface facing earth reflects light. |
| galaxy | a large group of stars, dust, and gas that is held together by gravity and can be elliptical, spiral, or irregular. |
| giant | late stage in a stars life cycle where its hydrogen is used up, its core contracts and its outer layers expand and cool. |
| great red spot | a giant, high-pressure continuous storm on jupiter. |
| inpact basin | a hollow left on the surface of the moon caused by an object striking its surface. |
| jupiter | largest planet annd fifth planedt from the sun, has faint rings, sebenteen moons, and atmosphere formed mostly of hydrogen and helium, and its surface has continuous storms. |
| light-year | distance light travels in one year the unit of measure used by astronomers to determine distances in space. |
| lunar eclipse | occurs when earths shadow falls on the moon. |
| maria | dark-colored, relatively flat regions of the moon formed when ancient lava reached the surface and filled craters on the moons surface. |
| mars | fourth planed from the sun, appears reddish because of iron ozide in weathered rocks, has polar ice can=ps, a thin atmosphere, and two moons. |
| mercury | planet closest to the sun, has a thin atmosphere with temperature extremes, an iron core, and many craters and high cliffs. |
| meteor | a meteoroid that burns up in earths atmoshere |
| meteorite | a meteoroid that does not completely burn up in the atmoshere and strikes the surface of a moon or planet. |
| moon phase | change in appearance of the moon as viewed from the eart, due to the relative positions of the moon, earth and the sun |
| nebula | a large cloud of dust and gas that can break apart into smaller pieces and form stars. |
| neptune | large, gaseous planet with rings, dark-colored storms, and eight moons, has a distinctive blue-green color |
| neutron star | collapsed core of a supernova that shruinks to about 20km in diameter and whose dense core has only neuturons. |
| new moon | moon phase that occurs when the moon is between earth and the sun,at which point the moon cannot be seen because its lighted half is facing the sun and its dark side faces earth. |
| observatory | a building used to house an optical telescope, often has a dome-shaped roof that can be opened for viewing. |
| orbit | curved path of a satellite that results from a combination of the satellites for ward movement and the gravitational pull of earth. |
| photosphere | lowest layer of the suns atmosphere and the layer that gives off light |
| pluto | smallest planed and usually considered to be the ninth planet from the sun, has a thin atmosphere and a solid, icy-rock surface |
| project apollo | final stage of the u.s space program to reach the moon, with apollo 11 landing on the moons surface on july20, 1969 |
| project gemini | early u.s. space program where on gemini astronaut team connected with another space craft in orbit, also studied the effects of space travel on the human body. |
| project mercury | first u.s. space program that orbited a piloted spacecraft around warth and brought it back safely. |
| radio telescope | an instrument that collects and records radio waves traveling through space and can be used day or night under most weather conditions, provides information to map the universe and look for life on other planets. |
| reflecting telescope | an optical magnifying instrument that uses a concave mirror in the base of the telescope to focus light from an object and form an object and form an image at the focal point |
| refracting telescope | an optical magnifying instrument in which light from an object passes through a double convex lens and is passes through a double convex lens and is bent to form an image at the focal point. |
| revolution | earths yearlong elliptical orbit around the sun. |
| rocket | a motor that does not require air to burn either liqid or solid propellant and can carry objects into space. |
| rotation | spinning of earth on its imaginary axis, which takes about 24 hrs to complete and causes day and night to occur. |
| satellite | any natural or artificial object that revolves around another bject in space. |
| saturn | second-largest planet and sixth platnet from the sun, has a thick atmosphere, a complex ring system, and at least sighteen moons |
| solar eclipse | occurs when the moon passes directly between the sun and earth and casts a shadow over part of earth. |
| solar system | system made up of the nine unique planets, including earth, and many smaller objects, that orbit the sun. |
| solstice | twice-yearly point at which the sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator. |
| space probe | an instrument that carries data gathering equipment deep into spaceand sends information back to earth |
| space shuttle | a reusable space craft designed to make many trips and that carries astronauts, satellites, and other cargo to and from space. |
| space station | a large structure with living quarters, work and excercise areas. and humans to live and work in space, can provide the opportunity to conduct research not possible on earth. |
| sphere | a round, three-dimensional form its center at all points, earth is a sphere that bulges somewhat at the equator and is slightly flattened at the poles. |
| sunspot | an area of the sun that is cooler and not as bright as surrounding areas and that is caused by the suns intense magnetic field. |
| supergiant | life cy le stage of a massive star where the core reaches extreamely high temperatures, heavy elements form by fusion.and the star expands. |
| uranus | seventh planet from the sun, is large and gaseous with thin, dark rings and rotates tilted on its side. |
| venus | second planet from the sun, has a dense atmosphere with high temperatures, a surface with craters, faultlike cracks, and volcanoes,sometimes called earths twin. |
| waning | describes phases that occur after a full moon, as the visible lighted side of the moon grows smaller. |
| waxing | describes phases following a new moon, as more of the moons lighted side becomes visible. |
| white dwarf | stage in which a star has used up its helium and its outer layers escape into space, leaving behind a hot, dense core that contracts. |
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