Geography and Astronomy Terms

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Axis

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The imaginary straight line about which a planet spins, or rotates. The Earth's axis passes through the north and south poles, and through the center of the Earth.

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Climate

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The average weather at a certain place over a period of many years.

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Equator

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The line drawn around the Earth, halfway between the north and south poles.

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Equinox

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The time of year in March and September when the Sun is located directly over the Earth’s equator. Daylight is equal in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The Sun is visible from both poles.

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North Star

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The star in the sky towards which the Earth's axis is pointed in the northern hemisphere. Its proper name is 'Polaris', and the star is the only one in the sky that does not move.

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Observatory

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A building equipped with a telescope for viewing the real sky.

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Planetarium

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A machine which projects images of stars, the Sun, Moon, and planets onto a domed ceiling. The machine rotates to illustrate celestial movements. Also a building or room housing such a device.

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Revolution

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The movement of an object in a path (orbit) around another object. Planets revolve around the Sun, and moons revolve around their parent planets.

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Rotation

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The spinning of planets and moons about their axes.

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Solstice

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The time of year in December when the Sun is located directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, it is winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere. The Sun is visible for 24 hours per day from the South Pole. Also the time of the year in June when the Sun is located directly over the Tropic of Cancer, it is summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere. The Sun is visible for 24 hours per day from the North Pole.