5th Gr. Science Space Unit Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards derived from the 5th-grade science space unit lecture notes, covering key terms and concepts.

Planet

A round body that orbits a star, which may have a rocky surface or be made of gases.

Solar System

The sun and all the planets, asteroids, moons, and other objects that revolve around it.

Galaxy

A system of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravitational attraction; our galaxy is called the Milky Way.

Universe

Everything that exists, including galaxies, stars, planets, and living creatures.

Astronomy

The scientific study of the universe and matter outside of Earth's atmosphere.

Asteroid

An irregularly shaped body in space that orbits our sun.

Meteoroid

A small, irregularly shaped space rock.

Meteor

A meteoroid that has entered Earth's atmosphere.

Meteorite

A meteoroid that has survived its trip through our atmosphere.

Comet

A body in space made mostly of ice and rock.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases that surrounds a planet.

Gravity

A force of attraction that exists between two masses.

Mass

A measure of how much matter is in an object.

Weight

The measure of the force of gravity on an object.

Orbit

The path followed by an object revolving around another object.

Axis

The imaginary line around which a planet rotates.

Asterism

A group of stars that forms a picture in the sky.

Constellation

A group of stars that forms a pattern.

Astronomical Unit (AU)

A unit of measurement used to describe distances in space.

Salyut 1

The first space station, launched in 1971.

International Space Station (ISS)

A space station that orbits Earth every 90 minutes and has been home to astronauts since 2000.