Definitions 1
astronomy
the study of heavenly bodies, things outside of the earth, including the sun, moon, and stars
maria
Latin for "seas", refers to the darker areas of the moon's surface, at lower elevations
List the 5 planets that appear as bright as stars in the sky
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
What is synchronous orbit? Does the earth or the moon exhibit this orbit?
When an object in space rotates on its axis at the same rate that it revolves around another body, like a planet; the moon
During total solar eclipses, what are the corona and the prominences?
Corona- outermost layer of the sun
Prominences- loops of gas that follow the sun's magnetic fields
spectroscopy
the study of spectra
highlands
areas of the craters on the surface of the moon that appear lighter and are at high elevation
What is NEO?
A NEO is a near earth object
Galileo
What are the names of the minor planets in our solar system?
Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake
comet
small bodies in space that contain frozen dust, gases, and even rocks, which have orbits of their own; made up of a nucleus, often with a trail of particles and dust that follow it
lunar
referring to features and aspects related to and upon the moon
How do circumpolar stars move in the Southern Hemisphere, and does the South Pole have a main star like Polaris is in the north?
They appear to move clockwise around the south celestial pole, and no
How does the moon produce light?
It doesn't. It reflects light from the sun.
List the planets of the inner solar system
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
axis
an imaginary line, vertical and horizontal, around which a planet or other body rotates
orbit a planet, of which there are more than 150 in the solar system
Which has the faster orbit cycle, the moon or the sun?
The moon
How does gravity from both the moon and the earth impact one another?
The earth's gravity pulls on the moon, causing the moon to orbit the earth. But the moon's gravity also pulls on the earth and even alters its shape a little. The moon's gravity also impacts the ocean tides.
List the planets of the outer solar system
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
retrograde motion
when a planet appears to move east to west with respect to the stars, opposite from its normal position
minor planets
another name preferred by astronomers and given to bodies orbiting the sun that are also called asteroids, smaller than planets
Is rotation or revolution the circular motion around an axis that passes through the center of a body, such as a planet or moon?
Rotation
What clues helped lead ancient astronomers to realize that the earth was round?
They knew the earth's shadow caused lunar eclipses, and that it was always circular. They also realized that only a sphere casts a circular shadow.
What are three ways comets are lost?
2. collision with a planet
3. being ejected from the solar system