Earth and Space Science Test

Orbit

The path an object follows around another object due to gravity.

Revolution

The movement of an object around another object (e.g., Earth around the Sun).

Rotation

The spinning of an object around its own axis (e.g., Earth's rotation causes day and night).

Waxing

When the Moon appears to get bigger (more of it is lit up).

Waning

When the Moon appears to get smaller (less of it is lit up).

Gibbous Moon

A moon phase where more than half is visible but not full.

Quarter Moon

A moon phase where half of the Moon is visible.

Crescent Moon

A moon phase where less than half is visible.

New Moon

The phase when no part of the Moon is visible from Earth.

Full Moon

The phase when the entire Moon is visible.

Axis

An imaginary line that a planet rotates around.

Day

The time it takes for Earth to rotate once (24 hours).

Night

The time when part of Earth is facing away from the Sun.

Year

The time it takes for Earth to revolve around the Sun (365.25 days).

Month

The time it takes for the Moon to orbit Earth (about 29.5 days).

Shadow

A dark area caused when an object blocks light.

Umbra

The darkest part of a shadow (total eclipse happens here).

Penumbra

The lighter part of a shadow (partial eclipse happens here).

Dawn

The time just before sunrise when the sky starts to get light.

Dusk

The time just after sunset when the sky starts to get dark.

Horizon

The line where the sky meets the land or sea.

Telescope

A tool used to observe distant objects like stars and planets.

Gravitational Pull

The force that attracts objects toward each other (e.g., Earth's gravity keeps the Moon in orbit).

Tilt

Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5°, causing seasons.