Space Exploration Technologies and Ecosystem Biodiversity

Vocabulary flashcards covering astronomical observation instruments, space exploration probes, and the fundamental concepts and levels of ecological biodiversity.

Celestial objects

Natural objects found in space, including stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, nebulae, galaxies, and exoplanets.

Exoplanets

Planets that orbit stars other than the Sun.

Telescope

An instrument that collects light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation from celestial objects so scientists can observe and study them.

Ground-based telescopes

Telescopes located on Earth that allow astronomers to observe celestial objects like stars, planets, and galaxies without traveling into space.

Optical telescopes

Telescopes that collect visible light to produce images of celestial objects.

Radio telescopes

Instruments designed to detect radio waves emitted by objects in space.

Infrared telescopes

Telescopes that detect infrared radiation, revealing relatively cool objects and regions hidden by cosmic dust.

Space telescope

A telescope positioned beyond Earth's atmosphere that avoids atmospheric disturbances and detects wavelengths that Earth's atmosphere blocks or absorbs.

Hubble Space Telescope

A space telescope observing primarily visible and ultraviolet light, along with some near-infrared, to investigate galaxies, nebulae, stars, and the expansion of the universe.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

A space telescope that primarily detects infrared radiation to study early galaxies, star formation, and the atmospheres of exoplanets.

Space probes

Robotic spacecraft equipped with instruments such as cameras, spectrometers, and radiation detectors sent to explore space and collect scientific data.

Perseverance rover

A robotic rover designed to explore Mars, examine surface rocks and soil, collect samples, and evaluate ancient environmental conditions for past microbial life.

Voyager 1

A space probe that explored Jupiter and Saturn before advancing into interstellar space to gather scientific data beyond the heliosphere.

Heliosphere

The expansive region in space influenced by the solar wind.

Juno

A robotic spacecraft orbiting Jupiter to investigate its atmosphere, magnetic field, gravity, and internal structure.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular area, including species variety, genetic variation within species, and the diversity of ecosystems.

Genetic diversity

The variations and differences among individuals belonging to the same species, such as differing tolerance to disease or drought in plant varieties.

Species diversity

The variety of distinct species coexisting within an area, such as trees, birds, insects, and fungi within a forest.

Ecosystem diversity

The variety of different ecosystems present throughout a region, such as forests, wetlands, rivers, mangroves, and coral reefs.

Ecosystem stability

An ecosystem's capacity to maintain vital ecological functions—such as nutrient cycling, energy flow, and food webs—and resist or recover from disturbances.

Climate change

Shifts in temperature, precipitation patterns, sea levels, and extreme weather frequency that impact organism survival, distribution, and reproduction.