The Universe
The term that describes light waves from distant galaxies shifting towards the longer, red end of the spectrum.
What is Red Shift?
The process occurring in the Sun's core that converts mass into energy by combining hydrogen nuclei into helium.
What is Nuclear Fusion?
Kepler's first law states that the path of a planet's orbit around the Sun is this specific geometric shape.
What is an Ellipse?
The position where the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, making it invisible from Earth.
What is the New Moon?
This is the primary tool used by astronomers to collect and focus light from distant objects, making them appear larger and brighter.
What is a Telescope?
This principle states that the entire universe is expanding and that all distant galaxies are moving away from all others.
What is Hubble's Law
The region on the H-R Diagram where the Sun currently resides and spends about 90% of its lifespan.
What is the Main Sequence?
The two objects located at the focal points of an elliptical orbit, with the Sun occupying one of them
What are the Foci?
The phase of the Moon immediately before the Full Moon.
What is the Waxing Gibbous?
A model of the solar system where Earth is the center, which was the prevailing view for over a thousand years.
What is the Geocentric Model?
The scientific concept that is supported by the fact that the primordial gas clouds observed today consist primarily of hydrogen and helium.
What is the Big Bang Theory?
The maximum atomic number of the element that can be produced through fusion in the core of an average or massive star before a supernova
What is Iron?
This is the primary force that governs and maintains the stable, predictable, elliptical paths of objects in the solar system.
What is Gravity?
This event occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on Earth.
What is a Solar Eclipse?
This is the specific property of an orbit that indicates how "stretched out" or non-circular the elliptical path is.
What is Eccentricity?
Faint, uniform radiation detected from all directions in space, considered the "afterglow" of the Big Bang.
What is the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)?
The extremely dense, Earth-sized remnant of a low-mass star (like the Sun) after it has shed its outer layers.
What is a White Dwarf?
The point in a planet's orbit when it is moving slowest, due to being farthest from the Sun.
What is Aphelion?
The two phases of the Moon (in order) that immediately follow the New Moon.
What are Waxing Crescent and First Quarter?
A scientific model used to illustrate the relationships and positions of planets, like the Earth orbiting the Sun.
What is a Heliocentric Model?
The two lightest elements that formed in the first few minutes after the Big Bang, which account for the vast majority of matter in the universe.
What are Hydrogen and Helium?
This spectacular, massive stellar explosion is responsible for generating all of the atomic elements heavier than Iron.
What is a Supernova?
The point in a planet's orbit when it is moving fastest, due to being closest to the Sun.
What is Perihelion?
The term for the daily rising and falling of the ocean's surface caused by the combined gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun.
What are Tides?
Kepler's laws can be used to predict the motion of any orbiting object, including artificial satellites and this common, icy solar system body.
What are Comets?