Space Basics
I am a huge group of stars, gas, and dust all held together. One example of me is the Milky Way. What am I?
What is a galaxy?
We add an extra day in February every four years to keep the calendar matching Earth’s trip around the Sun.
What is a leap year?
This happens when one space object blocks the light from or casts a shadow on another.
What is an eclipse?
This is the shortest day of the year and the first day of winter.
What is the winter solstice?
Q: This group of stars looks like a spoon or ladle and can help you find the North Star by pointing from the edge of its "bowl."
What is the Big Dipper?
There are 8 of us that travel around the Sun. Can you name us in order, starting with the closest to the Sun?
What are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune?
This tool is stronger than binoculars and can help you see planets and galaxies far away.
What is a telescope?
This eclipse happens when Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon and blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.
What is a lunar eclipse?
People used these patterns of stars in the sky to find direction. Examples include the Big Dipper and Orion.
What are constellations?
This constellation is named after a lion and is usually seen in the spring sky.
What is Leo?
I am the planet closest to Earth. What am I?
What is Mercury?
This indoor place shows stars and planets on the ceiling when it’s too cloudy to see the sky.
What is a planetarium?
This eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight.
What is a solar eclipse?
These happen because Earth's axis is tilted and it orbits the Sun, changing how much sunlight each part of Earth gets.
What causes the seasons?
This constellation is shaped like a centaur with a bow and arrow, and it’s often seen in summer.
What is Sagittarius?
I include everything stars, galaxies, planets, and space itself.
What is the universe?
After a few minutes in the dark, your eyes do this, helping you see more stars.
What is adjusted to the darkness?
These happen because Earth is tilted as it orbits around the Sun.
What are the seasons?
These are two small lenses you hold up to your eyes to help you see the Moon and stars more clearly.
What are binoculars?
This W-shaped constellation is named after a queen sitting on a throne.
What is Cassiopeia?
This is the name of the natural satellite that orbits Earth.
What is the Moon?
Earth has different seasons because of its tilt. It changes how much sunlight we get during the year.
What is Earth's tilt?
This is the longest day of the year and the first day of summer.
What is the summer solstice?
What is the summer solstice?
This star can be found by drawing an imaginary line from the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper’s bowl.
What is the North Star (Polaris)?
This winter constellation is known as "The Hunter" and has three bright stars in a row called Orion’s Belt.
What is Orion?