Moon Phases & Motions
What is the term for the phrase when the Moon's sunlit portion is increasing?
waxing phase
What type of eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth?
solar eclipse
What is the name of the dark, smooth plains on the Moon?
maria
What type of telescope uses lenses to focus light?
refracting telescope
What causes the apparent rising and setting of the Sun and starts?
Earth's rotation
What phase occurs when the entire sunlit side of the Moon faces Earth?
Full Moon
What type of eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow?
lunar eclipse
What are the heavily cratered, mountainous regions of the Moon called?
Which telescope is preferred by most astronomers?
What is the tilt angle of Earth's axis relative to the ecliptic plane?
about 23.5 degrees
How long is a lunar month (the time it take the Moon to complete a cycle of phases)?
about 29.5 days
What is the name for the point in the Moon's orbit closest to Earth?
perigee
What is the regolith on the Moon?
the layer of loose ground-up rock covering the surface
What process links separate telescopes to act as one, improving image resolution?
Earth's tilt results in......
cycle of seasons
What is synchronous rotation in relation to the Moon?
when the Moon's orbital and rotational periods are equal, which causes the same side to always face Earth
What is the darkest part of the Moon's shadow during a solar eclipse called?
umbra
What is the impact theory of the Moon's formation?
the idea that the Moon was formed from material that was ejected after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth
What is electromagnetic radiation?
electric and magnetic disturbances traveling through space as waves
What does equinox mean?
equal nights; when day and night are about equal in length
Name the phases of the Moon when the visible sunlit portion is decreasing.
waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent
What causes spring tides on Earth?
when the Sun and Moon are aligned in the same direction
What kind of rocks mostly make up the lunar highlands?
lunar breccias
What is the name of the space telescope designed to obtain sharp-visible light images without atmospheric interference?
Hubble Space Telescope
What is the term for when the Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer?
summer solstice