Unit E. Space Exploration First Half Quiz

Solstice

Longest or shortest day of the year

Equinox

Each of the two times of the year when days and nights are of equal length

Geocentric Model

Earth is the center of the Universe

Heliocentric Model

Sun is the center of the universe

Astronomical Unit (AU)

the average distance between Earth and the sun, about 150 million km

light year

the distance light travels in one year

sun-like stars

one of the two main types of stars that can form. (smaller in mass than the massive stars)

constellations

official patterns of stars in the sky

Asterism

An unofficial small grouping of stars

galaxy

A collection of stars, dust, and gas bound together by gravity

Massive Star

brightest stars, white or blue, large mass, short lifespan

Asteroids

a small rocky body orbiting the sun

comet

A ball of frozen dust and rock that orbits the sun and has a tail that glows

Meteoroid

A chunk of rock or dust in space

meteor

a rock burning in the atmosphere

meteorite

A meteoroid that passes through the atmosphere and hits Earth's surface.

Azimuth

A horizontal angle measured clockwise from north or south.

altitude

height above eye level or the horizon

satellite

An object that revolves around another object in space

. Hubble Space Telescope

this telescope has improved our knowledge of the Universe

electromagnetic spectrum

the complete range of electromagnetic waves placed in order of increasing frequency

space probes

A vehicle that carries scientific instruments to planets or other bodies in space

interstellar matter

Debris from artificial objects orbiting earth

inner planets

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

Jovian Planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

dwarf planet

Pluto

Milky Way

The name of our galaxy

east

90 degrees

south

180 degrees

west

270 degrees

horizon

zero degrees altitude

north east

45 degrees

south east

135 degrees

south west

225 degrees

north west

315 degrees

white dwarf

A small, hot, dim star that is the leftover center of an old star

black dwarf

A white dwarf that has burnt out completely.

neutron star

the small, dense remains of a high-mass star after a supernova

black hole

An object in space whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape.

orbit

The path of an object as it revolves around another object in space