Planets & Orbits
This planet is known as the red planet
Mars
The Sun is a _____
star
The dark side of the moon that we cannot see from Earth is called the _____ side.
"far side."
Gravity pulls objects toward what part of Earth?
toward Earth's center
The first human to walk on the Moon
Neil Armstrong
The path a planet follows around the sun is called its
orbit
Stars appear to move across the sky each night because of Earth's _____
rotation
Name the moon phase when the entire face of the moon is lit as seen from Earth
full moon
True or False: Gravity on the Moon is stronger than gravity on Earth
False — gravity on the Moon is weaker than on Earth
Name one tool or instrument astronauts use to breathe in space
an oxygen tank or spacecraft life support (e.g., oxygen tank/portable life support system)
Name the largest planet in our solar system
Jupiter
Which star appears larger and brighter to us on Earth because it is closest to us?
the Sun
What phase comes roughly one week after a new moon?
first quarter
What keeps the planets orbiting the sun instead of flying off into space?
Gravity from the sun keeps them pulled inward while their forward motion keeps them moving around — balance of gravity and motion
What is the name of the NASA program that first sent humans to the Moon in 1969?
Apollo program (Apollo 11 was 1969)
The four inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) are often called _____ planets because they are made mostly of rock and metal
terrestrial
Give one reason why some stars appear brighter than others
Because of differences in distance from Earth or because some stars produce more light
Explain why we see different phases of the moon
We see different parts of the moon lit as it orbits Earth; sunlight lights different portions, so the shape we see changes.
Define "orbit" in one sentence
An orbit is the path an object takes as it moves around another body in space because of gravity
Give one reason why rovers are useful for studying other planets
Rovers can travel across the surface, take close-up pictures, collect samples, and operate for long periods without humans
Explain why Neptune and Uranus are called "ice giants"
They have large amounts of volatile ices (like water, methane, ammonia) and deep atmospheres over rocky cores; colder and farther from the sun
What do all food chains start with?
The Sun
Describe the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse.
Lunar eclipse: Earth is between Sun and Moon and Earth's shadow falls on the Moon. Solar eclipse: Moon is between Sun and Earth and the Moon's shadow falls on Earth
A satellite moves around Earth because of two things acting together. Name them.
Gravity pulling inward and the object's forward motion (inertia) — together they cause orbiting
Explain one major difference between a space probe and a human-crewed spacecraft.
A space probe is usually unmanned and sent to collect data remotely; a human-crewed spacecraft carries astronauts