Vocabulary Quiz - VocabForce

1. orbital node

method judging celestial distances with multiple steps

point where orbit crosses ecliptic

cloud of gas collapses under gravity

reflectivity of a celestial body based on geometry

2. orbital mechanics

study of orbital motion

instantaneous orbital ellipse

Earth's natural satellite

slow, continuous movement of celestial objects

3. descending node

point where orbit crosses celestial plane heading south

constellation belt along ecliptic

another galaxy designation

moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto

4. true anomaly

dusk or dawn light period

magnetic arc of plasma in the solar corona

actual position of orbiting body

earth's orbit-based year length

5. solar jet

celestial coordinate system based on Earth's equator

time span of observation

narrow stream of plasma from the Sun

dimming near a star's limb

6. irregular moon

moon with no regular pattern or orbit

rotation aligning with orbital period

asteroid or comet close to Earth

imaginary line around which an object spins

7. cosmic distance ladder

boundary where solar wind ceases

Sun and orbiting celestial bodies

gravitational effect on objects within a galaxy

method judging celestial distances with multiple steps

8. Milky Way

our galaxy's luminous band in sky

Earth's great circle dividing northern and southern hemispheres

massive system of stars, gas, and dust

relating to the Moon

9. neutrino

star and its planets or companions

related to equinoxes or occurring at equinoxes

surface marking distinguished by reflectivity differences

elusive subatomic particle

10. moving group

deviation in orbital motion

mass range where exoplanets are rare

average distance from Earth to Sun (about 149.6 million km)

stars sharing common motion

11. axis of rotation

imaginary line around which an object spins

luminous celestial body made of hot gases

longest diameter of an elliptical orbit

furthest point in orbit around a focus point

12. plane of the ecliptic

star exhibiting sudden brightness increases

intense, brief emission of gamma rays from space

centered on the Sun

Sun's apparent path

13. occultation

body similar to planets

star exhibiting sudden brightness increases

study of celestial meridians

one celestial body blocking another

14. artificial satellite

human-made object orbiting a planet or star

small planetary object orbiting Sun

part of Sun obscured

object emitting high-energy radiation

15. nebula

direction opposite the Galactic Center

longest radius of an ellipse orbit

closest point in orbit

gaseous interstellar cloud

16. galactic astronomy

natural object in space, like planets or stars

gas cloud with molecules, star-forming

study of galaxies and their structures

bright, dense center of a galaxy

17. common proper motion

speed toward or away from observer

wide-angle imaging for X-ray telescopes

mass bends light from distant objects

stars moving together through space

18. main sequence

measure of transparency in stellar atmospheres

star phase fusing hydrogen in core

magnetic arc of plasma in the solar corona

use of diverse signals for study

19. compact star

objects per unit volume

instantaneous orbital ellipse

extremely large black hole at galaxy's core

dense stellar remnant like white dwarf or neutron star

20. aphelion

point in orbit farthest from the sun or star

bright central region of some galaxies, high energy emissions

oscillation of celestial bodies like the Moon

furthest point in orbit around a focus point

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. orbital node

2. orbital mechanics

3. descending node

4. true anomaly

5. solar jet

6. irregular moon

7. cosmic distance ladder

8. Milky Way

9. neutrino

10. moving group

11. axis of rotation

12. plane of the ecliptic

13. occultation

14. artificial satellite

15. nebula

16. galactic astronomy

17. common proper motion

18. main sequence

19. compact star

20. aphelion

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. orbital node

2. orbital mechanics

3. descending node

4. true anomaly

5. solar jet

6. irregular moon

7. cosmic distance ladder

8. Milky Way

9. neutrino

10. moving group

11. axis of rotation

12. plane of the ecliptic

13. occultation

14. artificial satellite

15. nebula

16. galactic astronomy

17. common proper motion

18. main sequence

19. compact star

20. aphelion

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

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