Studied by 70 peopleSolar system
the sun and all the objects in the orbit around it.
planet
a large collection of matter that is generally spherical and revolves around the sun.
cosmology
the study of the origin of the universe
Star
a very large collection of matter that emits on the intense amount of energy (light and heat)
constellation
star groupings
polaris
the north star
longitude
measured from east to west from the 0 degree line that crosses Greenwich, England
latitude
measured from the Equator to either the North Pole or the South Pole
Geocentric
Earth was the center of the universe
Helocentric
sun-centered system
The Sun
A medium sized star composed of 75% hydrogen and 25% helium.
Supernova
Core that collapses and explodes.
Low mass star
Very cool in temp. and ends their life span by forming a cool, dim, star called white dwarf
Intermediate mass star
Fuels hydrogen into helium for energy
High mass star
emits extremely large amounts of energy for a short period of time
Apparent magnitude
the brightness of the star that we see
absolute magnitude
the actual brightness of the star
spectroscope
splits light up into a pattern of colours, like a rainbow
Electomagnetic spectrum
consists of a visible spectrum of energy that we can see, as well as other energy that we cannot see.
Blue shift
When light shifts are compressed, the light emitted appears more purple in colour
Red shift
when light waves are spread out (or further apart), the light emitted appears more red in colour.
Galaxy
huge collections or gas, dust, and billions of stars. The force of gravity attracts the tars in a galaxy to each other.
Quasar
Looks like a small star, limits up to 100 times more energy than our galaxy, emits radio waves.
Star cluster
contain 10 000-1 000 000 stars that are fairly close to each other and travel together.
light year
the distance that light travels in a year
astronomical unit
the distance between the sun and the earth
parsec
measurement for distance that is equal to 3.26 light years
planet
smaller than stars, and do not emit light
asteroid
chunks of rock/metal that orbit the sun but are too small to be called planets. (minor planets)
trojan
asteroids with orbits that cross paths with earth
comet
chunks of ice/dust that orbit the sun
meteroid
lumps of rock that can be trapped by earth's gravity and can be pulled into earth's atmosphere.
meteor
meteoroids that enter earth's atmosphere
shooting star
the streak of light produced across the sky as the meteor burns up.
meteorite
meteoroids that do not completely burn up as meteors in the earth's atmosphere may strike the earth's surface.
crater
bowl shaped holes on the earth's surface, made by large meteorites
meteor shower
when earth passes through debris left behind from an old comet, there may be a swarm of visible meteors in the night sky.
globular cluster
collections of 100 000 to 1 000 000 stars held together by gravity, arrnged in spherical shapes.
neutron star
formed by very high mass stars, contracting even further.
astronomy
the study of all objects in the universe.
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