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Sun-Earth-Moon
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Satellite | A body that orbits a planet |
| Star | A giant ball of superheated gas, or plasma, composed of hydrogen and helium. |
| Sun | Largest object in our solar system |
| Planet | Spherical, orbits the Sun, with a larger mass than nearby objects. |
| Meteor | A streak of light created by rock in space |
| Comet | Made of gas, dust, and ice that develops tail as it revolves around the sun |
| Constellation | A pattern or group of stars that people imagine. |
| Geocentric | Earths centered model is known as a geocentric |
| Heliocentric | A sun centered model called the heliocentric model |
| Ellipse | An oval shape rather than a perfect circle |
| Axis | An imaginary line that passes from the North Pole through the Earths center to the South Pole. |
| Rotation | Spinning of earth on its axis is called rotation |
| Revolution | The movement of one object around another. |
| Orbit | An oval shape. |
| Solstice | When the northern or southern hemisphere is at its strongest tilt towards the sun. |
| Equinox | When neither hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. |
| Gravity | When this force attracts all objects toward each other |
| Inertia | The tendency of an object to resist in motion |
| Law of universal gravitation | Pull of gravity depends on mass and distance. |
| Phase | Different shape of the moon you see |
| Solar eclipse | When the moon passes directly between the Earth and Sun. |
| Lunar eclipse | Occurs during a full moon when Earth is directly between the moon and Sun |
| Umbra | Darkest part of a shadow where light is completely blocked |
| Penumbra | Area of a shadow where light is partially blocked |
| Tide | Daily rise and fall of ocean water |
| Spring tide | Higher high tides during full and new moons |
| Neap tide | Lower high tides during the first and third quarter moons |
| Maria | Dark, smooth, lava covered areas on the moon |
| Highlands | Higher lighter areas on the moon covered with craters |