Moon, Planets and Solar System Flashcards

Flashcards about Moon Surface, Space Exploration, and Solar System Formation

Regolith

Fine dust covering the Moon's surface.

Craters

Bowl-shaped depressions on the Moon's surface caused by impacts.

Maria

Dark, smooth plains on the Moon formed by ancient lava flows.

Highlands

Lighter-colored, heavily cratered mountainous regions on the Moon.

Rilles

Narrow valleys or trenches on the Moon, thought to be caused by collapsed lava tubes.

Luna 2

First spacecraft to impact the Moon in 1959 (Soviet Union).

Luna 9

First spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon in 1966 (Soviet Union).

Apollo 11

NASA mission in 1969 that marked the first human landing on the Moon.

Terrestrial Planets

Inner planets made of rock and metal.

Gas/Ice Giants

Outer planets, such as Jupiter and Neptune, composed of gases and ice.

Nebula

Cloud of gas and dust that formed our solar system.

Accretion

Process where small particles stick together to form planets.

Nuclear Fusion

Process where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing energy in the Sun.

Spectroscopy

Method that analyzes light to determine the composition of stars and planets.