Asteroids, Meteors, Comets, and Constellations

Flashcards covering key concepts related to asteroids, meteors, comets, and constellations as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is the region of the sky containing stars that are grouped together to form shapes called?

Constellations.

What is the name of the belt where most asteroids orbit between?

The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

What is a meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere and produces a bright streak of light called?

A meteor.

What is the name given to a comet's vaporized material that forms a tail?

Gas and dust tail.

How many constellations are recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)?

88 constellations.

What phenomenon occurs when a meteoroid is large enough to survive its passage through the atmosphere to reach Earth's surface?

A meteorite.

What do we call a celestial object that travels in a long elliptical orbit around the sun?

A comet.

A star map shows the relative positions of what?

Stars in a particular part of the sky.

What is the purpose of celestial navigation?

To determine location and direction using stars.

What type of celestial objects can mark the changing seasons and guide agricultural activities?

Constellations.