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Astronomy
Vocabulary for Astronomy Domain
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| atmosphere | A blanket of gas surrounding a planet |
| axis | A real or imaginary line through the center of an object |
| eclipse | An event that occurs when one object in outer space blocks the sunlight reaching another object |
| hemisphere | Half of the sphere of Earth |
| orbit | The curved path a planet, spacecraft, or heavenly body takes around another object in space |
| rotate | To turn around an axis or a center |
| universe | All objects and matter in space including Earth and beyond |
| asteroids | Small rocky bodies that orbit the sun and that are smaller in size than a planet |
| celestial bodies | Any objects, including planets, moons, stars, comets, or meteors, which can be found in outer space |
| comets | Frozen balls of dust and ice whose orbits take them far out in the solar system |
| core | The central inside part of a celestial body, other objects, or ideas |
| debris | Bits and pieces of leftover dust and rocks |
| meteoroids | Small pieces of metal or rock that travel through the solar system and that are much smaller than an asteroid |
| satellites | Natural or human-made objects that orbit around a planet or other celestial objects |
| solar system | Our sun and all the planets and other objects that move around it |
| terrain | The surface of the land and its features |
| dense | Compact; having all the parts very close together |
| frigid | Extremely cold |
| greenhouse | A building with a transparent glass or plastic roof and walls made to trap in heat from the sun and grow plants all year round |
| NASA | An acronym for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; an organization in the United States that directs space travel and research |
| polar | Related to the pole of a planet or the area surrounding it |
| astronomical | Really large; enormous in number, size, or distance |
| atoms | The tiny particles from which all substances are made |
| cluster | A number of things of the same kind that are together in a group |
| fuse | To join together |
| galaxy | A large collection of stars, dust, and gas, held together by a powerful force and separated from other star systems by an extensive amount of space |
| irregular | Uneven; not regular in shape, size, or other characteristics |
| light-year | Distance traveled by light over a period of years; a measure of length used in astronomy |
| spiral | Curved in shape; gradually winding around a center point |
| attraction | Something between two objects that draws them together |
| black hole | An object or area in space that has such a strong gravity that not even light beams can escape its gravitational pull |
| force | A pull or a push on an object or system |
| gravitational pull | The force that draws all objects in the universe toward each other |
| gravity | The force or pull created by the mass of objects that attracts them to one another |
| matter | The substances all objects on Earth are made of; all substances that take up space |
| tides | The periodic or regular rise and fall of the surface of large bodies of water on Earth that are caused by the interaction of the moon’s gravity with Earth |
| constellations | Groups of stars in the sky thought to look like people, objects, or animals |
| ladel | A spoon or dipper with a long handle and a cup-like end used for serving liquids |
| magnetic | Exerting a strong attractive force |
| navigate | To find one’s way |
| orient | To identify your position in relation to things around you |
| orienteering | A modern sporting competition in which participants orient their movements by compass or GPS (Global Positioning System) to accomplish a set of goals |
| Polaris | The North Star; a bright star above the northern pole of Earth Example: Travelers today, like explorers in the past, use Polaris to help them navigate. |
| Big Bang | A scientific theory of how the universe began Example: The Big Bang Theory is based on a great deal of scientific observation, facts, and discussion. |
| compressed | Pressed together into less space |
| data | Facts or pieces of information that have been collected, often in the form of measurements |
| elements | The basic substances found on Earth and in the universe, each made of only one kind of atom |
| evidence | Something that makes a statement clear and believable |
| expanding | Becoming larger; increasing in area; spreading out |
| phenomenon | An interesting fact or event that can be studied |
| theories | Suggested or widely accepted explanations for why things in the world happen |
| calculations | Mathematical methods used to answer a question |
| diurnal | Having a daily cycle or occurring daily as a result of the earth’s twenty-four hour rotation around its axis |
| geocentric | Having the earth as the center |
| heliocentric | Having the sun as the center |
| hypothesis | An idea that is based on observation and experimentation but that is not commonly accepted |
| logical | Makes sense in an organized, step-by-step way |
| opposed | Resisted; was against |
| module | A segment or section of a spacecraft designed to do a specific job |
| observatory | A building or place especially built for observing the stars, planets, and other space objects |
| probes | Unmanned spacecraft sent to explore space and gather scientific information |
| reusable | Able to be used again |
| spacecraft | A manned or unmanned vehicle designed to travel into space for research and exploration |
| space shuttle | A partly reusable, manned spacecraft launched into space for research and exploration that returns to Earth and lands on a runway |
| triumph | A special achievement, success, accomplishment, or victory |
| aeronautics | The study or practice of flight and aircraft |
| applications | Written requests to be considered for a program or job |
| conducted | Carried out or made something happen |
| engineering | The study and work of using science, knowledge, and methods to solve problems in the world |
| international | Among or between two or more nations or countries |
| mission | A specific task or job that a person or team is sent to perform |
| pursue | To do what it takes to accomplish something |
| refugees | People who flee to another country for protection or safety |
| tragedy | A very sad event or a disaster |
Created by:
redds5115
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