science astronomy

artificial satellites

human-launched spacecraft in orbit

asteroid belt

a group of rocks that orbit the sun in a band and between Mars and Jupiter

asteroid

an irregular rocky object in orbit around the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

axis

the line connecting the north pole with the south pole. earth evolves around its axis

celestial

relating to the sky or to space

comet

a ball of ice, dust and rock that orbits the sun in a highly elliptical orbit

constellation

a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern i the sky

day

the time a planet takes to rotate once completely on its own axis

eclipse

the total or particle obscuring of one celestial body by another

ellipse

oval shape

gas giants

the large planets of the outer solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune

geocentric model

model of the universes with earth at its center

gravitational force field

invisible field that causes masses to be attracted to eachother

heliocentric model

model of the universe with the sun at its center

lunar eclipse

when the earth blocks sunlight form reaching the moon

meteor

a meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere, usually creating a bright streak across the sky as it burns up; a shooting star

meteorite

a meteor big enough to hit part of the ground

meteoroid

a small partials or body of rock that orbits the sun near earths orbit

milky way

the galaxy of which our solar system is located

orbit

a path a planet takes around a star, or moon or artificial satellite takes around a planet

penumbra

less dense shadow of an eclipse

retrograde motion

apparent loop like motion of the planets as seen from earth

revolution

one complete orbit around the sun

satellite

abject in orbit around another larger object

sidereal month

the time the moon takes to complete one orbit around earth

solar eclipse

when the sun blocks sunlight form reaching the earth

solar system

the sun and all the planets, satellites, asteroids, comets and other bodies revolving around it

terrestrial

earth like, rocky. The terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars

umbra

full, dark shadow of an eclipse

year

the time a planet takes to revolve once around the sun