Vocabulary Quiz - VocabForce

1. ring system

initial astronomical observation of a telescope

eccentricity of an orbit

set of rings surrounding a planet

planet closer to the Sun than Earth

2. synodic day

time between similar moon phases

imaginary line around which an object spins

organization overseeing astronomy standards

slowing rotation via gravitational forces

3. nebula

gaseous interstellar cloud

celestial objects like planets

star with changing brightness

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

4. orbital mechanics

study of orbital motion

gradual change in a celestial body's axis orientation

magnetic arc of plasma in the solar corona

study of universe's structure, origin, and evolution

5. retrograde motion

star exhibiting multiple pulsation modes

abundance of elements heavier than helium

planet appears to move backward in sky

protoplanetary disk around a young star

6. brown dwarf

smaller galaxy orbiting a larger one

failed star with insufficient mass for nuclear fusion

recognized pattern of stars forming mythic shapes

plane containing the total angular momentum of system

7. planetary differentiation

human-made object orbiting a planet or star

region between Mars and Jupiter with numerous asteroids

layer separation in planets

relating to the Moon

8. lunar phase

specific date and time for astronomical data

orbit passing over Earth's poles

Moon's visible shape over a month

imaginary line through Earth's poles

9. solar prominence

close approach of celestial objects as seen from a vantage point

time for one orbit

large, bright cloud of plasma in Sun's atmosphere

table listing astronomical object positions over time

10. relativistic jet

dense stellar remnant like white dwarf or neutron star

official naming of stars

measure of a celestial object's intrinsic brightness, standardized distance

high-speed jet from a galaxy or black hole

11. rogue planet

distant icy body region beyond Neptune

star and its planets or companions

free-floating planet not orbiting a star

highest point a celestial object reaches in sky

12. star cluster

planet closer to the Sun than Earth

rotating disk of material around a young star

jet of material from Sun's surface

group of stars gravitationally bound

13. equatorial coordinate system

star with features of different types

shorthand notation for celestial objects or points

point directly above observer on Earth's center

celestial coordinate system based on Earth's equator

14. invariable plane

dimming near a star's limb

point where orbit crosses celestial plane moving north

plane containing the total angular momentum of system

measure of how elliptical an orbit is

15. minor-planet moon

dense central core of a galaxy or star cluster

moon orbiting a minor planet

stars in a galaxy's flat disk

list of recorded stars and data

16. planetary

apparent distance between objects in view

loosely bound star group

relating to planets

study of life beyond Earth

17. starfield

organization overseeing astronomy standards

measure of size or brightness

stars sharing common motion

visible distribution of stars in the sky

18. early-type star

hot, blue, massive star with high surface temperature

astronomical color measurement system

study of motions of stars within systems

geology of planets and moons in the solar system

19. globular cluster

stable position in a two-body system

tiny solid particles in space affecting light and heat

spherical collection of old stars

gradual change in a celestial body's axis orientation

20. orbit plot

graph representing orbital motion

rotating disk of matter spiraling into a celestial body

moon orbiting a minor planet

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

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. ring system

2. synodic day

3. nebula

4. orbital mechanics

5. retrograde motion

6. brown dwarf

7. planetary differentiation

8. lunar phase

9. solar prominence

10. relativistic jet

11. rogue planet

12. star cluster

13. equatorial coordinate system

14. invariable plane

15. minor-planet moon

16. planetary

17. starfield

18. early-type star

19. globular cluster

20. orbit plot

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. ring system

2. synodic day

3. nebula

4. orbital mechanics

5. retrograde motion

6. brown dwarf

7. planetary differentiation

8. lunar phase

9. solar prominence

10. relativistic jet

11. rogue planet

12. star cluster

13. equatorial coordinate system

14. invariable plane

15. minor-planet moon

16. planetary

17. starfield

18. early-type star

19. globular cluster

20. orbit plot

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

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