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axis The imaginary vertical line that cuts through the center of Earth and around which Earth spins ellipse An elongated circle, or oval shape, the shape of the planets orbit. hemisphere Half of the earth usually referred to as eastern or western; northern or southern revolution Earth's yearlong elliptical orbit around the sun rotation Spinning of Earth on its imaginary axis, which takes about 24 hours to complete and causes day and night to occur 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 equator An imaginary circle around the middle of the earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole latitude The numbering system used to indicate the location of parallels drawn on a globe and measuring distance north and south of the equator longitude The numbering system used to indicate the location of meridians drawn on a globe and measuring distance east and west of the prime meridian (0°). orbit The path an object follows as it revolves around another object crater a bowl-shaped depression formed by the impact of a meteorite maria dark-colored, relatively flat regions of the Moon formed when ancient lava reached the surface and filled craters on the moon's surface highlands tall mountain ranges and appear as light areas on the moon meteorite a meteoroid that strikes the surface of a moon or planet nuclear fusion a nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy 23.5 degrees the earth's tilt waxing (of the moon) pertaining to the period during which the visible surface of the moon increases waning (of the moon) pertaining to the period during which the visible surface of the moon decreases gibbous (used of the moon) more than half full full moon phase that occurs when all of the Moon's surface facing Earth reflects light Copernicus Polish astronomer who produced a workable model of the solar system with the sun in the center (1473-1543) Galileo Italian astronomer and mathematician who was the first to use a telescope to study the moon and stars spring tide highest tidal range that occurs to the alignment of Earth, the moon, and the sun neap tide a tide with the least difference between high and low tide that occurs when the sun and moon pull at right angles to each other lunar eclipse the earth interrupts light shining on the moon solar eclipse the moon interrupts light from the sun