Observations and Inferences
This is what we call a likely explanation of events.
What is an inference?
Cosmic background radiation in the observable universe is evidence that this event occurred. (Hint: It's in the name of a scientific theory in the astronomy and geology communities.)
What is the Big Bang?
This is the number of unique phases of the moon that humans observe.
What is 8?
True or False: There are multiple theories as to how the Earth's Moon was formed or attained.
What is True?
There are four "rocky planets." Name one.
What is Mercury, Venus, Earth, or Mars?
Weather forecasting counts as this.
What is inferring?
OR What are inferences?
This is the visible light color with the longest wavelength.
What is red?
This is the phase of the moon that happens directly before a full moon.
What is a waxing Gibbous moon?
[Half-credit for just "waxing" or just "Gibbous."]
True or False: The Earth and the Moon both revolve clockwise in their respective orbits.
What is False?
[They both revolve counterclockwise in their orbits.]
This is the period of revolution for the Moon, given in Earth days. (So, don't say "about a month.")
What is 27.3 days?
OR What is 27 days?
This is what a non-numerical observation is called.
What is qualitative?
This is the highest frequency color in the rainbow.
What is violet?
This is the last phase of the moon in a lunar cycle before we start over again with a new moon.
What is a waning crescent moon?
[Half-credit for just "waning" or just "crescent."]
This is why the first time it looks like we have a "half moon" in the lunar cycle, we call it a first quarter moon.
What is "because we are a quarter of the way through the lunar cycle" (or something like that)?
This is the most elliptical planetary orbit in our solar system, also known as the planet with the biggest eccentricity.
What is Mercury?
A measurement with an instrument is an example of this. (Need a two word phrase)
What is a quantitative observation?
If an object is hurdling towards you, the visible light spectrum of that object will shift toward this color.
What is blue?
(Half-credit given to "violet")
This is the lunar phase that must be taking place during a lunar eclipse.
What is a full moon?
This is when the Moon is farthest apart from the Earth in its orbit. (Hint: Not looking for a phase of the Moon.)
What is apogee?
This is how many times more dense Venus is compared to Uranus.
What is 4 times denser?
These are the classic 5 senses.
What are sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste?
(In any order; partial credit is permitted)
Proof that the universe is expanding is the fact that most stars detectably experience this phenomenon within the Doppler Effect.
What is red-shift?
This is the lunar phase that must be taking place during a solar eclipse.
What is a new moon?
This is the reason eclipses don't happen every 1-2 months.
What is something along the lines of "the Moon's orbit is not on the same plane as the Earth's orbit?"
OR "The moon's path is tilted by a few degrees?"
This is the only planet whose "days" on that planet are longer than the "years" on that planet.
*Hint: It's not Earth we're talking about.
What is Venus?
[Period of rotation is longer than their period of revolution.]