Download Space Vocabulary

Space
Vocabulary
Created by Mrs. Ceolho
revolve
(revolution)
to move in a circle or
ellipse around a center;
orbit
Ex: Earth revolves around the sun,
the moon revolves around Earth
rotate
(rotation)
the spinning of an object on
its axis
Ex: Earth rotates on it’s
axis – 1 full rotation is 24
hours
orbit
the path one body in space follows
as it goes around another body; one
complete path around a body
Ex: moon orbits Earth; planets orbit
the sun
axis
a line through the center
of an object on which that
object turns
Ex: Earth rotates fully on it’s axis
once a day
gravity
the force that pulls objects
toward each other
satellite
Satellite:
an object that orbits a planet
Ex: a planet’s natural satellite is it’s
moon(s)
atmosphere
a mixture of gases that
surround a planet
Ex: Earth, moon, & sun all have
atmospheres, but Earth has the only one
sustainable to human life.
moon phases
the different ways we see
the moon appear in the sky
as it orbits Earth
crater
a bowl-shaped
landform on a planet or
moon
solar
about the sun
lunar
about the moon
solar eclipse
the partial or total blocking of
sunlight on Earth by the moon;
this occurs when the Earth
passes through a new moon’s
shadow
moon
sun
Earth
lunar eclipse
the partial or total blocking of
sunlight on the moon by the
Earth; this occurs when the
full moon passes through
Earth’s shadow
moon
sun
Earth
star
an object in space that
produces its own heat and
light
sunspot
dark spots on the sun
that are cooler than the
rest
planet
a large body that
goes around (orbits)
the sun
comet
chunk of ice and
dust that orbits
the sun
asteroid
rocky and metallic
objects that orbit the sun
that are too small to be
considered planets
model
a small object
that looks like the
real one, but in a
smaller size
scale
a way to show the
relationship
between distance
on a map and real
distance
absorb
to take in and hold
reflection
when light rays
bounce off of an
object
refraction
when light
rays bend
telescope
something
used to make
far away things
look close
Moon Phase?
New Moon
When we see the New Moon, the lighted side of the Moon
faces away from the Earth. The Moon is between the Earth
and Sun. We don’t’ see the Moon because the sunlight falls
on the side of the Moon which is turned away from us.
Moon Phase?
Waxing Crescent
“Wax On” = moon on right side; Crescent = small
When we see the Waxing Crescent, a small part of the
Moon appears lighted and it appears to be getting larger
each day. The Waxing Crescent Moon is a narrow
crescent, lit on the right side.
Moon Phase?
First Quarter
When we see the First Quarter, the right half of the
Moon appears lighted, with the lighted part growing
larger on the following days. The First Quarter Moon
is 7 or 8 days after the New Moon.
Moon Phase?
Waxing Gibbous
“Wax On” = moon on right side; Gibbous =
fat/hump
Gibbous means hump. When we see the Waxing
Gibbous Moon, more than half of the Moon appears
lighted. When more than half of the Moon is lit on the right
side, it is a Waxing Gibbous Moon.
Moon Phase?
Full Moon
Two weeks after the New Moon (14 days), the
Full Moon appears. When we see the Full Moon,
the lighted side of the Moon faces toward Earth.
It is opposite the Sun in the sky.
Moon Phase?
Waning Gibbous
“Waning Goodbye” = moon on LEFT; Gibbous =
fat/hump
When we see the Waning Gibbous Moon, more than half of
the Moon appears lighted. When the Moon is waning, it
appears to be getting smaller. When more than half of the
Moon is lit on the left side, it is a Waning Gibbous Moon.
Moon Phase?
Third or Last Quarter
When we see the Third or Last Quarter, the left
half of the Moon appears lighted. The Third or Last
Quarter Moon looks like a half-moon lit on the left
side.
Moon Phase?
Waning Crescent
“Waning Goodbye” = moon lit on LEFT; Crescent = small
When you see the Waning Crescent Moon, a small part
of the lighted Moon is visible. It becomes a narrow
crescent lit on the left side. It follows the Sun ever more
closely, until after 29 1/2 days, we have the New Moon
again and the whole cycle starts over again.
Name all 8 moon
phases – starting with
new moon