6th grade Astronomy

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

a collection of star systems

the theory that states that the universe began with a tremendous explosion aout 13.7 years ago

an object so massive and dense that even light cannot escape its gravity

a small rocky object that orbits the sun,usually in a band between Mars and Jupiter

the average distance between the earth and the sun

the tilt of the Earth on its axis

a small body of ice, rock and cosmic dust that follows an ellipitical orbit around the Sun

the study of the origin, properties, processes, and evolution of the universe

the shape of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun

our galaxy – spiral galaxy

period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox;

Twice-yearly point at which the Sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator.

solid, rocklike, and dense planets; the inner planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars

a degenerate neutron star that emits rapid pulses of radio and optical energy

a very luminous, starlike object that generates energy at a high rate; quasars are thought to be the most distant objects in the universe

the distance light travels in a year

a meteroid that reaches the earth’s surface without burning up completely

the clockwise spin of a planet or moon as seen from above the planet’s north pole

a large cloud of gas and dust in interstellar space. A place where stars are born

the blocking of sunlight to the moon that occurs when Earth is directly between the sun and the moon

occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and casts a shadow over part of Earth

A large, reddish star late in its life cycle

When the tidal range is greatest. (full moon and new moon)

a less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon