Science Test 3/27

moon phases

represent the eight distinct, recurring shapes of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen from Earth over a ~29.5-day lunar cycle.

Moon Rotation

its spinning on its own axis, a movement that takes roughly 27.3 days to complete

Moon revolution

approximately 27.3-day elliptical orbit around the Earth

Lunar cycle

the ~29.5-day period during which the Moon orbits Earth and passes through its full sequence of phases from new moon to new moon driven by changing illumination angles between the Sun, Earth, and Moon

Moons orbit - 5 degree

the gravitationally curved path a natural satellite follows around a larger celestial body, such as a planet or dwarf planet.

solar eclipse

the obscuration of the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun lunar eclipse or the obscuration of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth solar eclipse.

Lunar eclipse

the obscuration of the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun lunar eclipse or the obscuration of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth solar eclipse.

Earths atmosphere

a thin, protective envelope of gases, held by gravity, surrounding the planet.

Umbra

the complete or perfect shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the direct light from the source of illumination is completely cut off.

Penumbra

the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off, the grayish marginal portion of a sunspot.

Waxing

the phase of the moon when the illuminated portion visible from Earth is increasing, growing from a new moon towards a full moon.

Waning

the phase of the Moon when its illuminated surface area appears to decrease, or get smaller, each night.

Gibbous

(of a heavenly body) convex at both edges, as the moon when more than half full.

Crescent

the figure of the moon in its first or last quarter, resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends.

New moon

the moon either when in conjunction with the sun or soon after, being either invisible or visible only as a slender crescent.

Full moon

the moon when the whole of its disk is illuminated, occurring when in opposition to the sun.

First quarter

the instant, approximately one week after a new moon, when one half of the moon's disk is illuminated by the sun.

Third Quarter

a primary lunar phase occurring roughly three weeks after the new moon, appearing as a half-circle in the sky.

Regolith

mantle rock.

Crater

Also called impact crater;.  Also called meteorite crater.  a large bowl-shaped depression on the surface of the earth or other heavenly body, formed by the impact of a meteorite.

Maria

large, dark, basaltic plains on the Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions filling massive impact basins, rather than actual seas.

Meteoriod

a small rocky or metallic body traveling through outer space, ranging in size from dust grains to around one meter wide.