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Chapter 27

Terms in this set (49)

electromagnetic spectrum
the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends.
Radio waves
Electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies.
Microwaves
Used for cell phones and quickly cooking food.
Infrared waves
Used for heat lamps
Visible LIght
ROY G BIV only part of the EM spectrum we see.
Ultraviolet Rays
cause sunburn, help our bodies produce Vitamin D
X-Rays
used for medical diagnosis-broken bones
Gamma Rays
have the highest amount of energy, used to treat cancerous cells.
Refracting telescope
a telescope that uses a set of lenses to gather and focus light from distant objects
Reflecting telescope
a telescope in which a mirror is used to collect and focus light.
Interferometry
process that links separate telescopes so they act as one telescope, producing more detailed images as the distance between them increases.
Hubble Telescope
Large space telescope able to see farther than any other telescope at the end of the 20th century.
spinoff technology
Technology that was originally invented and designed for use in space programs but has been adapted for other everyday uses as well
Albedo
Ability of a surface to reflect light
Earth's albedo
31%
Moon's albedo
7%
Highland
light-colored, mountainous, heavily cratered area of the Moon, composed mostly of lunar breccias.
Maria
dark-colored, relatively flat regions of the Moon formed when ancient lava reached the surface and filled craters on the moon's surface
Impact crater
crater formed when space material impacted on Moon's surface.
Ejecta
material that falls back to the lunar surface after being blasted out by the impact of a space object
Ray
long trail of ejecta that radiates outward from a Moon crater.
Rille
Valleylike structure that meanders across some regions of the Moon's maria.
Regolith
layer of loose, ground-up rock on the lunar surface.
Ecliptic plane
The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun
solstice
Either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator
winter solstice
December 21 or 22, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
summer solstice
June 21/22, longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
Equinox
Each of the two times of the year when days and nights are of equal length
Synchronous rotation
Describes the state at which the Moon's orbital and rotational periods are equal.
Solar eclipse
Occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and casts a shadow over part of Earth
Lunar eclipse
an eclipse in which the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth's shadow.
Perigee
closest point in the Moon's elliptical orbit to Earth.
waxing
describes phases following a new moon, as more of the Moon's lighted side becomes visible
waning
(of the moon) pertaining to the period during which the visible surface of the moon decreases
gibbous moon
the phase of the moon in which three-fourths of the moon's side that faces earth is illuminated
crescent moon
the phase of the moon in which only a curved edge of the moon's side that faced earth is illuminated,
lasts about 6 days, can be a small sliver or almost a quarter moon.
quarter moon
one-half of the lighted side of the Moon faces Earth
apogee
the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited; the highest point
Earth's tilt
23.5 degrees
Lunar month
29.5 days, one lunar orbit around the Earth
Spring tide
When the tidal range is greatest. (full moon and new moon)
Neap tide
A less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon
Alan B Shepard Jr
First American to fly in space in 1961
John Glenn
first American to orbit the earth
Yuri Gargarin
First man in space
Space Shuttle
a spacecraft that can carry a crew into space, return to Earth, and then be reused for the same purpose
Mercury missions
A series of one manned NASA missions designed to send humans into space.
Gemini Missions
the step in between Mercury and Apollo, to test rendezvous, long duration flight, and space walking, two man missions
Apollo Missions
The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the Moon and bring them safely back to earth.
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