Science 8 - Unit 6 - Astronomy and Space - Study Guide

Rotation

How the earth spins on its axis.

Revolution

How the earth circles around the sun.

Summer Solstice

The longest day of the year, marking the beginning of summer.

Winter Solstice

The shortest day of the year, marking the beginning of winter.

Autumn Equinox

When day and night are approximately equal in length, marking the start of autumn.

Spring Equinox

When day and night are approximately equal in length, marking the start of spring.

Phases of the Moon

The distinct shapes of the moon as observed from Earth due to its position between the Earth and the Sun.

New Moon

The phase of the moon when it is not visible from Earth.

Full Moon

The phase of the moon when it is fully illuminated.

Waxing Crescent

The phase of the moon between the new moon and the first quarter.

Waning Crescent

The phase of the moon between the last quarter and the new moon.

Lunar Eclipse

When the Earth positions itself between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow on the moon.

Solar Eclipse

When the moon positions itself between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth.

Planet

A celestial body that orbits the sun and has cleared its orbit of other debris.

Moon

A natural satellite that orbits a planet.

Gravity

The force that attracts two bodies towards each other.

Asteroid

A small rocky body orbiting the sun, typically found in the asteroid belt.

Comet

An icy body in space that, when close to the sun, warms and begins to release gases, forming a visible atmosphere or coma.

Trojan

A celestial body that shares an orbit with a larger planet, typically found at stable points in that orbit.

Reflective

The ability to reflect light; applicable to objects such as moons.

Waning Gibbous

Waxing gibbous

Third Quarter

First Quarter

Geocentric

Earth being at the center of our universe/solar system

Heliocentric

The sun is the center of our solar system

Dwarf

Orbits the sun but does not have more mass than objects nearby

Comet

Made of gas, ice and dust

Meteroids

Debris left by colliding asteroids or dispersing comets

Asteroid

Millions of small dusty objects that orbit the sun

Planet

Must orbit the sun and have mass larger than the total mass of other objects

Earth’s magnetic field

Runs from the north to the south magnetic pole