Vocabulary Quiz - VocabForce

1. celestial pole

point where Earth's axis intersects celestial sphere

tiny space debris

table listing astronomical object positions over time

distance from Sun's center to surface

2. orbital resonance

gravitational locking of orbits

small moon orbiting a planet

velocity causing a celestial body to disintegrate

region where a body’s gravity dominates

3. epoch

leftover core after a star's death

deep-sky astronomical object catalog

specific date and time for astronomical data

theory of universe's origin and formation

4. prograde motion

graph plotting stars' brightness vs. temperature

movement in the direction of rotation

stars in a galaxy's flat disk

orbit with period equal to Earth's rotation

5. axial precession

spatial extent of morning astronomical phenomena

mass of the Sun used as a standard unit

region beyond Earth's atmosphere

slow westward shift of rotational axis over time

6. argument of periapsis

angle from ascending node to periapsis in orbit

path of celestial object around a star

study of objects in infrared spectrum

bright streak from atmospheric entry

7. baryogenesis

galaxy without defined shape

great circle passing through celestial poles and a point

theoretical process creating matter-antimatter imbalance

sun's outer atmosphere visible during eclipses

8. perihelion

any physical entity in space observed visually or otherwise

closest point of planet to Sun

galaxy luminosity and rotation link

lowest point beneath observer

9. Zone of Avoidance

closest or furthest point in an orbit around a focus

region of space with gravity so strong nothing escapes

galaxy with exceptionally high star formation

galactic plane obscured region

10. precession of the equinoxes

study of celestial objects via radio waves

wobble causing shifting equinox points over time

protoplanetary disk around a young star

celestial body outside our solar system

11. sidereal year

Earth's orbit period relative to stars

sky coordinate system centered on the galaxy

slowing rotation via gravitational forces

minimum mass for hydrogen fusion in star

12. X-ray source

object emitting high-energy radiation

pair of stars appearing close in the sky

angle between rotational axis and orbital plane

moon orbiting a minor planet

13. perturbation

deviation in orbital motion

telescope mounted on an aircraft or balloon for observations

speed moving along a circular path

group of hot, massive stars

14. partial solar eclipse

set of rings surrounding a planet

part of Sun obscured

wobble causing shifting equinox points over time

centered on the Sun

15. line of apsides

line connecting closest and farthest points in orbit

distant icy body region beyond Neptune

boundary where solar wind ceases

specific date and time for astronomical data

16. supernova

period between recurring celestial configurations

massive stellar explosion

faint glow from dust in solar system

bright, dense center of a galaxy

17. solar time

secondary satellite orbiting a satellite

time based on Sun's position

direction opposite the Galactic Center

star and its planets or companions

18. Oort cloud

relating to the Moon

distant comet reservoir in space

massive system of stars, gas, and dust

moon cycle with predictable phases

19. planet

central dense region of a spiral galaxy

dense stellar remnant like white dwarf or neutron star

large celestial body orbiting a star

observable boundary of the sky

20. planetary

relating to planets

intense, brief emission of gamma rays from space

gaseous interstellar cloud

official naming of stars

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. celestial pole

2. orbital resonance

3. epoch

4. prograde motion

5. axial precession

6. argument of periapsis

7. baryogenesis

8. perihelion

9. Zone of Avoidance

10. precession of the equinoxes

11. sidereal year

12. X-ray source

13. perturbation

14. partial solar eclipse

15. line of apsides

16. supernova

17. solar time

18. Oort cloud

19. planet

20. planetary

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

Vocabulary Quiz:

1. celestial pole

2. orbital resonance

3. epoch

4. prograde motion

5. axial precession

6. argument of periapsis

7. baryogenesis

8. perihelion

9. Zone of Avoidance

10. precession of the equinoxes

11. sidereal year

12. X-ray source

13. perturbation

14. partial solar eclipse

15. line of apsides

16. supernova

17. solar time

18. Oort cloud

19. planet

20. planetary

Select vocabulary category you want to browse:

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