4 vocabulary cards the universe & the solar system

8/2/2019 4 Vocabulary Cards the Universe & the Solar System

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Universe

n. everything that exists,

including space, time, andmatter.

The universe is made up

of everything on Earth

and in space.

Sun

n. a massive shining sphere

of hot gas. It is the star

that is the central body of

the Solar System, around

which the planets revolve

and from which theyreceive light and heat.

The Sun is the center of

our Solar System.

Moon

n.the Earth's natural

satellite which orbits the

Earth. It has no light of itsown.

The Earths moon is full

of craters.


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astronomy

n.the science that studies

the Universe beyond theEarth's atmosphere.

Astronomy is the science

that helps us understand

the Universe.

Solar System

n.a system of planets

which revolve around the

Sun.

Our Solar System began

4.6 billion years ago.

constellation

n.various groups of stars

to which definite names

have been given, as UrsaMajor, Ursa Minor, Botes,Cancer,Orion.

A constellation is a group

of stars that appears to

form a pattern or

picture.


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galaxy

n. a large system of stars

held together by mutual

gravitation and isolatedfrom similar systems by

vast regions of space.

The Milky Way is our

galaxy.

meteorites

n.a mass of stone or metal

that has reached the

Earth from outer space; a

fallen meteoroid.

Meteorites are rocks

from space that actuallyhave landed on the

Earths or another

planets surface.

Milky Way

n.the spiral galaxy containingour Solar System. With the

naked eye it is observed as afaint luminous band stretchingacross the heavens, composedof approximately a trillionstars, most of which are toodistant to be seen individually.

Our Solar System is inside

the Milky Way galaxy.


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star

n.any of the heavenly

bodies, except the moon,appearing as fixed luminous

points in the sky at night.

The Sun is a star.

asteroids

n.also called minor planets.Any of the thousands of

small bodies measuringfrom 775 km to less than

1.6 km in diameter that

revolve around the sun.

Asteroids are rockybodies that orbit the

Sun.

planet

n. a planet is a spherical ball ofrock and/or gas that orbits astar. The Earth is a planet. OurSolar System has eight

planets. These planets are, inorder of increasing average

distance from the Sun:Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus andNeptune.

Pluto is no longer

considered a planet.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=minor%20planet&db=lunahttp://space.about.com/od/glossaries/g/star.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/earthinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/od/planets/Planets_Information_on_Planets_in_Our_Solar_System.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/suninfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/mercuryinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/venusinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/earthinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/marsinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/jupiterinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/saturninfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/uranusinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/neptuneinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/neptuneinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/uranusinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/saturninfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/jupiterinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/marsinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/earthinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/venusinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/mercuryinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/suninfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/od/planets/Planets_Information_on_Planets_in_Our_Solar_System.htmhttp://space.about.com/cs/solarsystem/p/earthinfo.htmhttp://space.about.com/od/glossaries/g/star.htmhttp://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=minor%20planet&db=luna


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Mercury

n.is the closest planet to

the Sun and the eighth

largest. It is called a rockyplanet because it is

composed primarily of rock

and metal.

Mercury has no moons.

Venus

n.is the second planet

from the Sun and the sixth

largest in the Solar

System. It is called a rocky

planet because it is

composed primarily of rockand metal.

Venus is almost the same

size as the Earth.

Earth

n. is the third planet from

the Sun and the

fifth largest. It is called arocky planet because it iscomposed primarily of rock

and metal.

The Earth is the only

planet we know that has

life.


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Mars

n. is the fourth planet fromthe Sun and the seventhlargest. It is called a rocky

planet because it is composedprimarily of rock and metal.

Mars is known as the red

planet.

Jupiter

n. is the fifth planet from the

Sun and the largest planet of

the Solar System. It is called a

gas or Jovian planet because it

is composed primarily of

hydrogen and helium.

Jupiter is the largest planet

in our Solar System.

Saturn

n. is the sixth planet from the

Sun and the second largest. It

is called a gas or Jovian planet

because it is composedprimarily of hydrogen and

helium.

Saturn is best known for its

beautiful rings.


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Uranus

n. is the seventh planet from

the Sun and the third largest.

It is called a gas or Jovianplanet because it is composed

primarily of hydrogen and

helium.

Uranus was the first planet

discovered by telescope.

Neptune

n. is the eighth planet from

the Sun and the fourth

largest. It is called a gas or

Jovian planet because it is

composed primarily of

hydrogen and helium.

Neptune spins on its axis

once every 16 hours.

axis

n. an imaginary line

through the Earth which

runs from pole to pole. It isthe line about which a rotating

body turns.

Earths axis is tilted at 23.5

degrees in relation to the

plane of its orbit.


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phases

n.the particular

appearance presented by

the Moon or a planet at a

given time.

The lunar phases vary

cyclically as the Moon

orbits the Earth.

crescent

adj. the figure of the

Moon in its first or last

quarter, resembling a

banana.

A crescent Moon looks

like a banana.

satellite

n. move in orbits aroundplanets, just as the planets

orbit around the Sun.

The moon is the Earths

natural satellite.


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waning

v. (of the moon) todecrease periodically in

the extent of itsilluminated portion after

the full Moon.

The Moon is waning when

it progressively reflectsless light.

waxing

v. to show a progressivelylarger illuminated area, as

the Moon does in passing

from new to full.

The Moon is waxing when

it progressively reflects

more light.

orbit

v.to move or travel around

in an orbital or elliptical

path the way a planet,

satellite, spaceship, etc.,

moves around a celestial

body, like the Sun.

The planets orbit the

Sun.


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sphere

n.a shape like a ball.

The Sun and the planets

are shaped like a

sphere.

rotate

v. to cause to turn aroundan axis or center point.

The Moon and the Earth

rotate around their axis.

eclipse

n.the hiding of light.

A total lunar eclipse

occurs when a full Moon

passes through the

Earth's shadow during its

orbit.


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solar eclipse

n. hiding of the light of the

Sun because of the position of

the Moon between the Sun and

a point on the Earth.

A total eclipse occurs

when the Sun is

completely hidden by the

Moon.

lunar eclipse

n. hiding of the light ofthe Moon because of the

position of the Earth

between the Moon and the

Sun.

There is always a fullmoon when a lunar eclipse

occurs.

sunrise

n.when the part of the

Earth turns so it is lit by

the Sun. It is the time

when half the sun has risenabove the horizon.

Sunrise is also known as

dawn.


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sunset

n.When the Earth moves

around so it isnt lit by theSun. It is the setting or

descent of the sun below

the horizon in the evening.

Sunset is also known as

dusk.

East

n.a cardinal point of the

compass, 90 to the right

of north. It is where the

Sun rises.

The Sun rises in the

East.

West

n. a cardinal point of the

compass, 90 to the left of

north. It is where the Sunsets.

The Sun sets in the

West.


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Seasons

n.period of the year

characterized byparticular conditions of

weather and temperature

depending on the position

of the Earth with respect

to the Sun.

The seasons depend on

the position of the Earth

in relation to the Sun.

gravity

n. the force that pulls us

towards the centre of the

Earth.

Gravity keeps the

planets in orbit.

tilt

n. being inclined in a

sloping position away from

the axis.

The axis of the Earth is

tilted at 23.5 degrees.


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comet

n. a celestial body with a

solid core of frozen water,frozen gases, and dust.

When it travels near the

Sun, it leaves a long bright

trail of light behind it.

Halleys comet is the

most famous comet inhistory.

4 vocabulary cards the universe & the solar system

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