Learning About the Universe

Front

Universe Noun

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[yoo-ni-vurs]

Back

Universe

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All of space and everything contained within it, including planets, stars, galaxies, and all forms of matter and energy.

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Example: A spiral galaxy shows part of the universe, including stars and matter.

Front

Electromagnetic Radiation Noun

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[uh-lek-troh-mag-net-ik ray-dee-ay-shun]

Back

Electromagnetic Radiation

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A form of energy, such as light or radio waves, that travels through the vacuum of space as waves.

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Example: The image shows electromagnetic radiation as a spectrum, including visible light and other waves like radio and X-rays.

Front

Visible Light Noun

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[viz-uh-buhl lite]

Back

Visible Light

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The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected by the human eye and is perceived as different colors.

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Example: A prism splits white light into a spectrum of colors, showing visible light as part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Front

Visible Light Spectrum Noun

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[viz-uh-buhl lite spek-trum]

Back

Visible Light Spectrum

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The band of different colors produced when visible light passes through a prism, ordered by their different wavelengths.

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Example: The image shows the visible light spectrum with colors from violet to red, labeled with their wavelengths.

Front

Telescope Noun

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[tel-uh-skohp]

Back

Telescope

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An instrument that collects and focuses radiation to make distant objects appear larger, brighter, and nearer for observation.

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Example: The image shows how a telescope gathers and focuses light to magnify distant objects.

Front

Optical Telescope Noun

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[op-ti-kuhl tel-uh-skohp]

Back

Optical Telescope

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A telescope that gathers and focuses light, mainly from the visible part of the spectrum, for direct viewing or photography.

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Example: This diagram labels the parts of an optical telescope, showing how it gathers and focuses light for viewing.

Front

Reflecting Telescope Noun

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[ri-flek-ting tel-uh-skohp]

Back

Reflecting Telescope

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An optical telescope which uses a single or a combination of curved mirrors to reflect light and form an image.

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Example: Light reflects off mirrors in a telescope to form an image.

Front

Refracting Telescope Noun

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[ri-frak-ting tel-uh-skohp]

Back

Refracting Telescope

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An optical telescope that uses a lens as its objective to bend light and form an image through refraction.

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Example: The image shows a refracting telescope with labeled parts, illustrating how it uses lenses to form images.

Front

Radio Telescope Noun

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[ray-dee-oh tel-uh-skohp]

Back

Radio Telescope

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A specialized antenna and receiver used to detect radio waves from astronomical sources in the sky for study.

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Example: The image shows how a radio telescope collects and processes radio waves from space.

Front

Space Probe Noun

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[speys prohb]

Back

Space Probe

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An uncrewed, robotic spacecraft that explores outer space, collecting scientific information and transmitting it back to Earth for analysis.

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Example: A space probe with solar panels and a dish collects data from space and sends it back to Earth.