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 latitude | The distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees |
| longitude | Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees |
| coordinate system | A system of intersecting lines used to determine locations on earth's surface |
| crust | the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle |
| inner core | The solid, inner most layer of the Earth, composed of iron and nickel under extremely high pressure and temperature |
| outer core | The layer of the Earth's interior located between the inner core and mantle, composed of iron and nickel in a liquid state |
| Polaris | the star that is presently almost directly over the geographic North Pole, also called the north star |
| Prime Meridian | the imaginary line that divides the earth in the eastern and western hemisphere, at 0 degrees longitude |
| Equator | an imaginary line that circles Earth halfway between the North and South poles |
| mantle | thickest layer of the Earth, part liquid part solid, where convection currents are found |
| Athenosphere | the upper part of the mantle which behaves like a thick plastic fluid allowing for plate movements |