Understanding Solar Eclipses and Optical Measurements

A collection of vocabulary flashcards focused on key terms related to solar eclipses, celestial motion, optics, and astronomical measurements.

Total Solar Eclipse

An astronomical event where the moon completely covers the sun, causing daytime darkness and revealing the sun's corona.

Path of Totality

The track along which a total solar eclipse is visible.

Retrograde Motion

The apparent backwards motion of a planet against the backdrop of stars, often due to the relative positions of Earth and the planet.

Prograde Motion

The motion of a celestial object in the direction of its orbit, typically eastward.

Planet

Derived from Greek for 'wanderer', referring to an astronomical object that moves relative to fixed stars.

Lunar Eclipse

An event in which the Earth casts a shadow on the moon, requiring the moon to be in its full phase.

Focal Length

The distance over which initially collimated light is brought to a focus by a lens.

Mirroring

The act of reflecting image data from an observed object, often used in telescopy.

Real Image

An image formed by light rays converging and passing through a lens, which can be projected on a screen.

Virtual Image

An image created by light rays that do not actually converge, often perceived by looking into a lens.

Refraction

The bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, affecting its speed and direction.

Magnification

The process of enlarging an object's appearance, commonly used in telescopes to view distant celestial bodies.

Objective Lens

The larger lens in a telescope that collects light from distant objects and brings it to a focus.

Eyepiece

The lens used in telescopes that allows the viewer to see the magnified image created by the objective lens.