Celestial Bodies
In which galaxy is the Earth located?
The Milky Way
Who was the first man on the moon?
Neil Armstrong
Name the planets in order.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
How long does it take for the moon to orbit the Earth?
About 27-29 days, or one month.
What is the equator?
The equator is an imaginary line of latitude that runs from east to west and divides Earth in half. Sunlight hits the Earth most directly at the equator.
What is a large, glowing ball of gas that generates heat and light?
A star
Who was the first American woman on the moon?
Sally Ride
Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?
Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet because it did not meet the criteria to define a full-sized planet.
How many phases does the moon go through?
8 phases
How many hemispheres does the earth have? Name them.
4: Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, Eastern Hemisphere, Western Hemisphere.
Which objects are used to take pictures of the planets and look deep into space at black holes and distant stars and galaxies?
Satellites
What did the U.S. launch in 1981?
The first reusable spacecraft (a space shuttle).
Which is the hottest planet? Why?
Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system because of its thick atmosphere, which traps heat.
How does the moon affect the oceans?
It causes the tides.
When the earth rotates on its axis, what does it cause?
Day and night
What are small chunks of dust and ice that orbit the sun?
Comets or asteroids
What did the U.S. and 15 other countries agree to build in the 1990s?
The International Space Station
Which planets have rings? Which planet has the largest rings?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have rings. Saturn has the largest rings.
What happens during a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and a shadow is cast on the Earth’s surface.
How do we have seasons? Explain.
In one year, Earth makes one full orbit around the Sun. This causes the seasons of the year. The seasons are related to the way sunlight falls on different parts of Earth in the course of a year.
What is the name of the space telescope that orbits around Earth, allowing astronomers to get a better view of objects in outer space?
The Hubble Space Telescope
What famous words did Neil Armstrong say when he landed on the moon?
“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Which planets are called gas giants? Why?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, because these planets are much larger and their surface is composed of gas elements
Name all of the moon phases.
New moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter
Waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning crescent waning gibbous
What are the two names for the earth's orbit around the sun?
Revolution and translation.