What is astronomy?

The study of the moon, stars, and other objects in space.

A grouping of planets that revolve around one star is…

The Solar System

Our solar system is the sun and our nine planets and all moons and matter in space

around it

The force of attraction between any two objects – holds planets in their orbits is

called…

Gravity

What is a Theory?

An explanation of an idea that has supporting evidence not yet proved.

Describe the Big Bang Theory.

An explanation of how the universe formed – 13 billion years ago – All matter became concentrated and finally exploded. the

fastest moving matter traveled the farthest.

What are the geocentric and Heliocentric systems?

In a geocentric system, Earth is at the center

of the revolving planets and stars.

In a heliocentric system, Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun.

Anything that has mass (weight on Earth) and takes up space is called…

Matter

A force that is able to do work (move things) is called…

Energy

The path an object takes as it travels. Example: (the Earth orbits the sun) is called…

Orbit

Name the 9 Planets.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

Which planets have moons?

Earth-1 moon, Mars-2 moons, Jupiter-4 moons, Saturn-1 moon, Uranus-5 moons,

Neptune- at least 13 moons, and Pluto-1 moon

Describe planet Mercury.

Mercury is the smallest terrestrial planet and the planet closest to the sun.

Name the second planet.

Venus- is so similar in size and mass to Earth that it is sometimes called “Earth’s

twin”

What is planet Earth?

Earth is unique in our solar system in having liquid water at its surface.

Describe planet Mars

Mars is called the “red planet”

Scientists think that a large amount of liquid water flowed on Mar’s surface in the

distant past.

Name and describe Mars Moons.

Mars has two very small moons- Phobos and Deimos.

Phobos is the larger moon and Deimos is even smaller.

Both moons are covered with craters.

Name and describe the fifth planet.

Jupiter is the largest and most massive planet.

Jupiter has a Great Red Spot, a storm that is larger than Earth!!!

Name and describe Jupiter’s moons?

Jupiter has 4 large moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Io-surface is covered with large, active volcanoes

Ganymede-is the largest moon in the solar system

Callisto-its surface is icy and covered with craters

Describe planet Saturn?

Saturn is the second-largest planet in the solar system.

Saturn has the most spectacular rings of any planet.

Name and describe Saturn’s moons?

Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is larger than the planet Mercury.

Saturn also has four other moons.

Describe planet Uranus?

Uranus’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees from the vertical.

Describe Uranus’s moons?

Uranus has 5 large moons, but astronomers recently discovered several more-in total is

25.

The 5 largest moons have icy, cratered surfaces.

Describe planet Neptune?

Neptune is a cold, blue planet.

Its atmosphere contains visible clouds.

Describe Neptune’s moons?

Neptune has at least 13 moons.

The largest moon is Triton, which has a thin atmosphere.

Describe planet Pluto?

Pluto has a solid surface and is much smaller and denser than the other outer

planets.

Name and describe Pluto’s moon.

Pluto’s moon is Charon- since Charon is more than half the size of Pluto, some

astronomers consider them to be a double planet.

What is a Comet?

A comet is a loose collection of ice, dust, and small rocky particles, typically with a

long, narrow orbit.

What are Asteroids?

Asteroids are rocky objects revolving around the sun that are too small and numerous

to be considered planets.

What are meteors and meteoroids?

Meteors are streaks of light in the sky produced by the burning of a meteoroid in

Earth’s atmosphere.

Meteoroids are chunks of rock or dust in space.

To move closer together, become more dense is…

Concentrated

A grouping of millions of galaxies in the universe is called a…

Supercluster

A grouping of billions of stars is called a…

Galaxy

What is a star?

A huge ball of dust and gas that is burning. Nuclear fusion in the core (center) gives

off energy. Our star, the Sun, is an average-sized star.

What is our Cosmic Address?

Universe, Virgo Supercluster, Milkyway galaxy, The Sun, Earth, USA, NY, Locust

Valley, your street address

What is an open and closed Universe?

An open universe will continue to expand outward until all the stars die out billions of years from

now.

A closed Universe is when gravity will cause the outward expansion to eventually stop. All matter will be pulled together (concentrated and a new

big bang will occur.)

What is a Period of Rotation and a Period of Revolution?

Period of rotation-time it takes a planet to make one rotation on its Axis  (day)

Period of revolution- time it takes a planet to make one revolution around the sun  (year)

Imaginary vertical line through the center of body around which the body rotates, or spins is called

an…

Axis

What are Summer & Winter Solstice?What are Vernal & Autumnal Equinox?

Summer solstice-time of year when the northern hemisphere has itslongest day and the southern hemisphere has its shortest day: beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. June 21st-22nd Winter solstice-time of year when the northern hemisphere has itsshortest day and the southern hemisphere has its longest day:beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. December 22nd-23rd

 Vernal equinox-time of year when day and night are of equal length:beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. March 21st-22nd Autumnal equinox-time of year when day and night are of equallength: beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. September 21st-22nd 

What does “phase of the moon” mean?

It is the different shapes of the moon we see from Earth as the moon makes a complete

revolution around Earth.

What is a Waxing, Waning, Crescent, Gibbous mean?

Waxing: when the portion of the moon we see is growing (more light) - In the North East waxing moon phases are always on the right.)     

Waning: when the portion of the moon we see is shrinking (less light) – (In the North East waning moon phases are always on the left.)     

Crescent: this is when the moon's shape  resembles a crescent roll – (a slice)     

Gibbous: this is when the moon's shape  resembles an oval

What are Solar and Luner Eclipses?

Solar Eclipse: When the moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun.  The sunlight is blocked from part of the Earth. Earth is in the

Moon's shadow. Solar eclipses occur during the New Moon Phase     

Lunar Eclipse: A lunar eclipse occurs at a full moon when Earth is directly between the moon and the sun.  Earth blocks sunlight from

reaching the moon.  The moon is in Earth's shadow.

What is an Umbra or a Penumbra?

Umbra: The darkest inner shadow during a total eclipse    

Penumbra: The lighter outer shadow during a partial eclipse

The rise and fall of the oceans caused by the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth. They occur every 12.5 hours. Every 6 hours we have a high & low tide. So every day we have 2 high & low tides in a given spot on

Earth are called…

Tides

What are Spring & Neap Tides?

Spring tides: These are the when we have the greatest difference between high tides and  low tides.  This occurs at the full and new moon phases because the sun's gravitational pull adds to the force that the moon's gravity is exerting and we have the greatest difference between high and low tide.

Neap tides: These are the when we have the smallest difference between high tides and the  low tides.  This occurs at the first and last quarter moon phases because the sun's gravitational pull is at right angles to the to the force that the moon's gravity is exerting and we have the smallest difference between high and low tide.

How is the relative motion of the Earth, the moon, and the sun related to the phases of the

moon?  And how is it related to eclipses?

The revolution of the moon around the Earth causes different amount of Sunlight from reflecting off of it.  This causes us to see the moon appear differently to us on Earth. This is because the Sun, moon and Earth are in different positions during their revolutions. Eclipses are caused when one object in space blocks sunlight from another object.  While the Earth is revolving around the

sun, the moon is revolving around Earth.  When the moon's shadow falls on Earth we are experiencing a

solar eclipse.  When Earth's shadow falls on the moon the moon is having a lunar eclipse.

When would you be able to see a Solar & Luner Eclipse?

You can see a lunar eclipse during the full moon phase, when the Earth is blocking sunlight from hitting the moon.  A total lunar eclipse can

be see from anywhere on Earth. 

You can see a solar eclipse during the new moon phase.  This occurs when the moon is directly between the Sun and the Earth.  Most months the moon is higher in the sky so the sunlight is not totally

blocked, however during a solar eclipse they are directly in line.  A total eclipse can only be seen on the part of the Earth that is in full

shadow (the umbra)

How does the moon affect tides on the Earth?

The moon's gravitational pull causes the tides to occur on  Earth.

What are highlands, maria, and rilles?

highlands Mountain - ranges on the moon maria- Low land plains on the moon - caused by

volcanoes and moonquakes rilles- Valleys on the moon (both rilles and valleys have

two ll's)

What are Perigee & Apogee?

Perigee- When the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit (pretty close)

Apogee- When the moon is farthest to Earth in its orbit (away)

What are the moons period of rotation & revolution?

moon’s period of rotation- 27.3 days - same as its revolution

moon’s period of revolution- 27.3 days - same as its rotation

Who are the first 2 people to walk on the moon?

Neil Armstrong is the 1st person to walk on the moon (1969)

Buzz Aldrin is the 2nd person to walk on the moon (1969)

Galileo Galilei was…

Galileo Galilei is the 1st person to view the moon through a telescope (1609)

Compare the moon’s gravity to Earth’s gravity.

Gravity is Earth’s gravity – Objects weigh much less on the moon. Objects on Earth are six times heavier than on the

moon.

How did scientists figure out the distance from Earth to the moon?

Scientists left a mirror on the moon to help them calculate the distance from Earth to the moon. They knew how fast light travels (the speed of light), they bounced a

beam of light from earth to the moon and timed how long it took to get back

Describe the main theory of how the moon was created.

About 4.5 billion years ago the solar system was filled with rocky debris.  A giant asteroid (the size of Mars) hit the Earth and tore a chunk out of Earth’s surface. The Chunk is now our moon (All the

pieces merged together and stayed in orbit due to Earth’s Gravity.) The hole that was left on Earth is now possibly the Pacific Ocean.

This is also supported by moon rocks.

How might the moon’s craters and rilles have formed?

It is believed that they formed by either volcanic activity or moonquakes. The craters have volcanic rock in them which

supports the theory that volcanoes were responsible.  Moonquakes would also cause volcanic eruptions and they could explain the long

valleys, Rilles, on the moon.

Which planets have seasons?

Earth, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune.

Which planets don’t have seasons?

Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, & Pluto