click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
CRCT Science Review
Astronomy
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Asteroid belt | located between mars and Jupiter; separates the terrestrial planets from the gas giants |
types of galaxies | irregular ( no definite shape ) elliptical ( oval shaped ), and spiral ( frisbee shaped ). |
comet | A chuck of rock and ice that orbits the sun in a long elliptical orbit. |
Meteor | A meteorite that completely burns in Earth's atmosphere. |
Light year | The distance light can travel in one year; used to measure extreme distances in space |
Reflecting telescopes | Use lenses and mirrors to view distant objects |
Refracting telescopes | Use lenses to view distant objects |
Radio telescopes | Gathers radio waves from space. Can be used in all weather and all times of the day or night. |
Satellite | Any natural or man made object that revolves around another object. |
Asteroid | A large chunk of rock orbiting the sun in a location between Mars and Jupiter. |
Gas giants | Gas atmospheres, rings, moons, larger orbits |
Space probe | tools sent to distant areas in space to collect and sending back information. |
Milky Way | our galaxy; spiral shaped |
Spectroscope | Tool used to determine the composition of stars. |
Inner Planets | Terrestrial, no rings, few to no moons |
Meteorite | meteoroid that strikes Earth's surface. |
Mercury | • Closest to the Sun. • no true atmosphere • temps range: -170C (-274F) to 425C (840F) • “planet of extremes” • No moons |
Venus | • “Earth’s twin”- similar size and mass • thick Carbon dioxide atmosphere • Greenhouse effect- • 864 F (average temp) • “Evening star” • Retrograde rotation- backwards spinning: East to West • No moons |
Earth | • 70% water • Atmosphere -mostly Nitrogen • Rotates West to East • 1 moon • Axis is tilted and causes seasons |
Mars | • “Red Planet” • Ice Caps • Thin atmosphere -mostly Carbon Dioxide • Axis is tilted & has seasons like Earth. • 2 moons- Phobos, Deimos |
Jupiter | • Most massive • “Great Red Spot”- storm of swirling high-pressure gas • Faint rings • 4 famous moons- Io, Callisto, Ganymede, Europa |
Saturn | • visible rings made of ice, dust, and rock. • 2nd most massive planet • Less dense than water (would float in water) • Largest moon (Titan)- is bigger than Mercury |
Uranus | • Methane Atmosphere • Bluish in color • Rotates from top to bottom (like a tire) • Faint rings that surround the planet vertically (up and down) |
Neptune | • Atmosphere has very visible clouds. • “great dark spot” • Faint rings • 8th and final planet |