Term | Definition |
rotation | to spin or turn on an axis |
Revolution | to travel in a path around another object |
Orbit | the path an object takes as it moves around another object in space |
moon phase | the changes in the appearance of the moon as seen from Earth |
waxing moon phases | the phases of the moon where the moon appears to be growing (the light is increasing) |
waning moon phases | the phases of the moon where the moon appears to be shrinking; there is less and less light reflected |
lunar cycle | the different appearances of the Moon caused by the moon's orbit around Earth |
Gravity | a force that pulls objects toward each other larger objects have a larger Force |
solar system | a star and all the objects in orbit around it |
the order of the planets in our solar system | Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune |
axis | an imaginary line around which a planet rotates |
day | a period of time lasting 24 hours; the amount of time it takes Earth to make one complete rotation on its axis |
night | the period of darkness which occurs each day when that part of Earth is facing cold dark space |
Sun | the star that is at the center of our solar system |
Earth | the third planet from the Sun; a small, rocky planet unique because it has liquid water ---which enables it to support life |
Earth's Moon | a natural satellite of Earth in space that revolves around a planet reflecting the Sun's light |
apparent movement | seening movement of an object when no movement is actually taking place. example - the Sun moving across earth sky |
crater | bowl-shaped holes on a terrestrial surface typically made by asteroids |
seasons | one of four periods of the year. order- spring, summer, fall, winter |
Summer | the season when the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun |
winter | the season when the northern hemisphere is tilted towards cold dark space |
northern hemisphere | the half of Earth located above the equator |
southern hemisphere | the half of Earth located below the equator |
equator | the imaginary line that separates the Northern Hemisphere from the southern hemisphere |
high tide | a time when the in flowing water reaches its highest level |
low tide | the time when ocean water reaches its lowest level |
shadow | the dark shape made on the ground when an object is blocking sunlight |
asteroid | a large rocky object that orbits the Sun |
gas giant | the four planets on the outside of the asteroid belt Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune |
terrestrial planets | the four planets closest to the Sun Mercury Venus Earth Mars |
asteroid belt | the area between Mars and Jupiter filled with asteroids |
planet | a large body that moves in an orbit around a star |
the eight phases of the moon in order | new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter (also called last quarter), waning crescent, and new moon again |
12 a.m. | Midnight |
12 p.m. | Noon (high noon) |
East | Where the Sun appears to "rise" |
West | Where the Sun appears to set |
rotate | rotation, rotating, rotates |
revolve | revolution, revolving, revolves |
duration of moon revolution | about one month |
duration of earth's rotation on axis | 24 hours |
duration of earth's revolution around the sun | 365 1/4 days (one year) |
23.5° | The tilt of the Earth on its axis |
Cycle | a sequence of events that is repeated over and over |
crater | a depression on a rocky surface, like the moon, caused by an impact from another object |