Download Astronomy Unit Vocabulary Term Definition Example Light years are

Astronomy Unit Vocabulary
Term
astronomical
unit
Big Bang theory
electromagnetic
spectrum
galaxy
Hertzsprung
Russell Diagram
illuminated
light year
luminosity
Milky Way
Galaxy
Definition
A unit of measurement used in
astronomy. Equal to the
distance from the earth to the
sun.
Theory that states that the
formation and expansion of the
universe resulted from an initial
explosion.
Example
1 AU
SUN
EARTH
The range of electromagnetic
waves placed in order of
increasing frequency and
decreasing wavelength.
A collect of millions of stars
held together by gravity.
A graph of star’s luminosity and
temperature / color.
A word used to describe an
object that can be seen
because it reflects light.
Light years are used to measure
distances to and between
The distance light travels in one objects in space because units
year.
such as kilometers are not big
enough to measure distances in
space.
Some stars are brighter than
The amount of light an object
others. Thus, some stars have
emits or gives off.
higher luminosities than others.
The galaxy we live in. Contains
our sun and planets.
Term
Definition
Example
Any portion of the illuminated
moon visible from earth during
a month.
moon phase
neap tide
Weak tides that occur during
the quarter moon phase.
To orbit a central point.
The earth revolves around the
Sun.
To turn on an axis.
The earth rotates on its axis,
resulting in day and night.
revolve
rotate
spectroscope
spring tide
tides
visible light
An instrument used to view the
different colors of light
produced by different sources.
Strong tides that occur during
the full and new moon.
The rise and fall of large bodies
of water due to the pull of
gravity.
The small portion of
electromagnetic radiation that
humans can see with the
unaided eye.