Astronomy Basics
The force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun
Gravity
This is the nearest star to Earth
The Sun
This planet is known as the “Red Planet.”
Mars
This event is believed to have created the universe about 13.8 billion years ago.
The Big Bang
This planet has the fastest rotation in the solar system, with a day lasting just under 10 hours
Jupiter
This term describes the point in Earth’s orbit when it’s closest to the Sun
Perihelion
The color of the star will also this other property. Blue stars have more of it, red stars have less
The temperature of the star
This planet is known for its unique hexagonal storm several times bigger than the Earth
Saturn
This invisible form of matter makes up about 27% of the universe but doesn’t emit light.
Dark Matter
This planet has a “backwards” rotation, spinning clockwise instead of counterclockwise.
Venus
This law states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times as it orbits the Sun
Kepler's Second Law
This is the name for a giant cloud of gas and dust where stars are born
Nebula
This moon of Saturn has an atmosphere and liquid lakes around its surface
Titan
This theoretical boundary around a black hole is the point of no return.
Event Horizon
This planet has the largest temperature difference in the solar system. Extreme hot days to extreme cold nights
Mercury
This term refers to a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern in the sky, such as Orion or Ursa Major
A constellation
This Star is the nearest star to our solar system.
Proxima Centauri
What is the shape formed by a planet's orbit
An ellipse
This hypothetical particle that travels close to the speed of light and carries energy from radiation
Neutrino
Despite being farther from the Sun than Neptune, this dwarf planet sometimes becomes closer due to its eccentric orbit.
Pluto
This planet rotates on its side. The axis of rotation is about 98 degrees
Uranus
An explosion of high mass stars that can leave behind neutron stars or black holes.
A supernova
This name describes an outermost collection of icy rocks beyond Neptune
The Kuiper Belt
This term describes an invisible force responsible for the acceleration of the universe’s expansion.
Dark energy
This gas giant emits nearly twice as much energy as it receives from the Sun because of slow gravitational contraction
Saturn