Astronomy and Electricity Key Terms

Flashcards for Astronomy and Electricity Calculations

Electrical Efficiency

Useful energy output / Total energy input * 100%

Cost of Electricity

Cost of electricity is calculated in kilowatt-hours (kW*h)

Asteroid

Small objects that originate in asteroid belts; some have their own moon

Astronomy

The study of what is in space beyond the Earth

Constellations

Group of stars that seem to form shapes or figures

Light Year

The distance light travels in one year

Lunar Eclipse

Full moon passes into Earth's shadow

Meteor

A meteoroid that hits Earth's atmosphere and burns up

Meteorite

A meteoroid large enough to pass through Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground without being totally burned up

Autumnal Equinox

The day of the year when day and night are almost exactly equal in length, marking the start of autumn

Comet

Object made of rocky material (ice and gas), comes from the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud

Meteoroid

A piece of rock moving through space

Moon

A natural object that orbits a planet

Planet

A large, round object in space that orbits a star, like the Sun

Revolution

The movement of a celestial body as it orbits around another body

Retrograde Motion

The apparent backward movement of a planet in the sky compared to its normal direction of travel