The Heliocentric Model and Planetary Motion

Chromatic Aberration

When different colors of light focus at different points in a refracting telescope

Heliocentric Model of the Solar System

Model where the Sun is at the center of the Solar System

Geocentric Universe theory

Theory that suggests the Earth is at the center of the Universe

Retrograde motion in copernican system

Apparent backward motion of planets in the Copernican system

Eccentricity (e)

Measure of how an orbit deviates from a perfect circle

Orbital Motion

Motion of a planet as it orbits the Sun

Continuous Spectrum

Spectrum produced by a hot dense gas or hot solid object

Emission Spectrum

Spectrum produced by a hot diffuse gas, showing bright lines revealing composition

Absorption Spectrum

Spectrum produced by a cool diffuse gas in front of a source of continuous spectrum

Ground state

Low energy state of an electron in an atom

Excited state

High energy state of an electron in an atom

Doppler Effect

Effect related to the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer's motion

Refraction Telescopes

Telescopes that use the bending of light passing through different media

Reflecting Telescopes

Telescopes that bounce light off a mirror to create an image

Diffraction Spikes

Patterns seen when light encounters obstacles or narrow openings

Telescope Resolution

Measure of the smallest angle between two resolvable sources of light

Plato

Ancient philosopher who believed celestial bodies revolved around the Earth

Nicolaus Copernicus

Astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the Solar System

Johannes Kepler

Astronomer known for Kepler's laws of planetary motion

Tycho Brahe

Astronomer who meticulously observed the movements of planets

Galileo Galilei

Astronomer who made significant telescopic discoveries and observations

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation

Black Body Radiation

Radiation from an object that absorbs all radiation incident on it

Hydrogen atom (Energy Levels)

Different energy levels of an electron in a hydrogen atom

The Doppler Effect

Phenomenon where the wavelength of waves changes due to the motion of the source or observer

Telescopes

Instruments used to observe distant objects in space