Download Astronomy Study Guide axis - A real or imaginary line through the

Astronomy Study Guide
axis - A real or imaginary line through the center of an object
orbit - The curved path a planet, spacecraft, or heavenly body takes around another object in space
rotate - To turn around an axis or a center
NASA - An acronym for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; an organization in the
United States that directs space travel and research
solar system - Our sun and all the planets and other objects that move around it
gravity - The force or pull created by the mass of objects that attracts them to one another
celestial bodies - Any objects, including planets, moons, stars, comets, or meteors, which can be found
in outer space
debris - Bits and pieces of leftover dust and rocks
galaxy - A large collection of stars, dust, and gas, held together by a powerful force and separated from
other star systems by an extensive amount of space
light-years, n. Distance traveled by light over a period of years; a measure of length used in astronomy
black hole, n. An object or area in space that has such a strong gravity that not even light beams can
escape its gravitational pull
force, n. A pull or a push on an object or system
spacecraft, n. A manned or unmanned vehicle designed to travel into space for research and exploration
asteroids, n. Small rocky bodies that orbit the sun and that are smaller in size than a planet
comets, n. Frozen balls of dust and ice whose orbits take them far out in the solar system
meteoroids, n. Small pieces of metal or rock that travel through the solar system and that are much
smaller than an asteroid
Astronomy is the study of the stars and other objects in outer space.
An astronomer is a scientist that studies astronomy.
The earth has seasons because the Earth is slightly tilted as it travels around the sun.
We live in the Milky Way galaxy.
Stars are hot, distant, and made of gas.
Comets, Asteroids and Meteoroids are all found within our Solar System.
The planets in our solar system orbit around the sun.
The moon orbits around the Earth.
It takes 24 hours for the Earth to do a complete rotation.
It takes 365.25 days for the earth to orbit around the sun.
People to Know
Galileo – was an astronomer that created a telescope.
Ptolemy – was one of the first to describe star patterns.
Nicolas Copernicus – through his observations he proved the Earth was moving around the sun.
Neil Armstrong – first man on the moon. Known for “One small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind.”
Buzz Aldrin – 2nd man on the moon. Planted the US flag on the moon.
Mae Jemison – 1st African American Woman in space. She was a scientist and astronaut.
Know the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse.
*A Solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. The moon temporarily
blocks the light from the sun and creates a shadow that passes over the Earth.
*A Lunar Eclipse is when the moon passes through the shadow of the Earth. This is where we
get the phases of the moon.