Earth Science Vocab Unit 3

Earth Science Vocab Unit 3

Orbit

The curved path of a celestial object or

spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon,

especially a periodic elliptical revolution.

Elipse

An oval shaped path

Rotation

Rotation is the circular movement of an object around a fixed point. It involves turning or spinning around an axis.

Axis

Axis: An imaginary line that an object rotates around.

Revolution

Flashcard: Term: Revolution Definition: The movement of an object around another object in a circular or elliptical path.

Seasons

Seasons: Periods of the year characterized by specific weather patterns and daylight hours, caused by the Earth's tilt and its orbit around the Sun.

New Moon

New Moon: Lunar phase when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, appearing as a dark circle in the sky.

Waxing

Phase of the moon when the illuminated portion is increasing from the right side. Occurs between the new moon and the full moon.

Waning

Waning Moon: The phase when the visible portion of the Moon decreases each night as it transitions from a Full Moon to a New Moon.

Crescent

Crescent: A shape resembling a segment of a circle, with two endpoints and a curved edge. It is often seen in the shape of the moon during certain phases.

Gibbous

Gibbous: Moon phase between a half-moon and full moon, where more than half of the moon is visible but less than a full circle.

First Quarter

What is the phase of the moon when it is halfway between a new moon and a full moon, with half of its face illuminated and visible from Earth?

Third Quarter

Third Quarter Moon: The phase when the Moon is three-quarters illuminated, appearing as a half-circle in the sky. It rises at midnight and sets around noon.

Full Moon

Full Moon: Lunar phase when the moon is fully illuminated as seen from Earth, opposite the sun. Occurs approximately every 29.5 days.

Solar Eclipse

A natural event where the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow on Earth.

Lunar Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse - When the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon.