Vocabulary Quiz - VocabForce

1. late-type star

another galaxy designation

brightness of object as seen from Earth

cool, less luminous star, often red

small star with brightness variation

2. solar wind

moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto

study of galaxies and their structures

orbital periods in simple ratio

stream of charged particles from Sun

3. galactic coordinate system

sky coordinate system centered on the galaxy

small moon orbiting a planet

geology of planets and moons in the solar system

longest radius of an ellipse orbit

4. supermassive black hole

furthest point in orbit around a focus point

star exhibiting sudden brightness increases

extremely large black hole at galaxy's core

study of universe's structure, origin, and evolution

5. sky

small, low-mass star, often red or brown

point where orbit crosses celestial plane heading south

expanse of space visible from Earth's surface

angular distance north or south of celestial equator

6. planet

orbit matching Earth's rotation, stationary relative to Earth

active galactic nucleus with jet pointing toward Earth

hot, blue, massive star with high surface temperature

large celestial body orbiting a star

7. speed of light

centered on the Sun

maximum speed of electromagnetic waves

highest point a celestial object reaches in sky

gravitational locking of orbits

8. gravitational collapse

imaginary sphere with stars fixed on its inside

orbit with zero inclination

longest radius of an ellipse orbit

contraction under gravity forming stars or structures

9. cosmic distance ladder

apparent distance between objects in view

recognizable pattern of stars within a constellation

method judging celestial distances with multiple steps

tiny space debris

10. celestial sphere

acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface

point in orbit farthest from the sun or star

frequent meteors from same source

imaginary sphere with stars fixed on its inside

11. apogee

method judging celestial distances with multiple steps

wobble causing shifting equinox points over time

radius of a celestial object as seen from Earth

highest point in satellite orbit around Earth

12. celestial pole

small star with brightness variation

point where Earth's axis intersects celestial sphere

study of orbital motion

loosely bound star group

13. dwarf planet

jet of material from Sun's surface

universe's initial explosive expansion origin event

closest distance a moon can approach without breakup

small planet-like body orbiting the sun, not classified as planet

14. red-giant branch

study of motions of stars within systems

time measure in orbital mechanics

phase of stellar evolution for large stars

recognized pattern of stars forming mythic shapes

15. secular

long-term gradual change

theoretical framework of star development

all existing matter and energy

angle between a body's orbit and reference plane

16. cosmic dust

apparent distance between objects in view

tiny solid particles in space affecting light and heat

deep-sky astronomical object catalog

study of celestial objects via radio waves

17. galactic tide

gravitational effect on objects within a galaxy

orbit with period equal to Earth's rotation

time based on Sun's position

study via telescopes

18. Rosseland optical depth

sky as seen from Earth

abundance of elements heavier than helium

measure of transparency in stellar atmospheres

closest point in orbit

19. regular moon

wide-angle imaging for X-ray telescopes

moon cycle with predictable phases

galaxy with exceptionally high star formation

distance light travels in one year

20. ionosphere

region of small icy bodies beyond Neptune

small planet-like body orbiting the sun, not classified as planet

astronomical object catalog

Earth's atmosphere layer ionized by solar radiation

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. late-type star

2. solar wind

3. galactic coordinate system

4. supermassive black hole

5. sky

6. planet

7. speed of light

8. gravitational collapse

9. cosmic distance ladder

10. celestial sphere

11. apogee

12. celestial pole

13. dwarf planet

14. red-giant branch

15. secular

16. cosmic dust

17. galactic tide

18. Rosseland optical depth

19. regular moon

20. ionosphere

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. late-type star

2. solar wind

3. galactic coordinate system

4. supermassive black hole

5. sky

6. planet

7. speed of light

8. gravitational collapse

9. cosmic distance ladder

10. celestial sphere

11. apogee

12. celestial pole

13. dwarf planet

14. red-giant branch

15. secular

16. cosmic dust

17. galactic tide

18. Rosseland optical depth

19. regular moon

20. ionosphere

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

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