Astronomy Terms

accretion

• The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon

• the accumulation of particles (gas and dust) into a massive object by gravitationally attracting more, and more matter

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

• The conditions in the gases surrounding a planet including the make-up of gases, temperature, and thickness of the gases.

What is the law of universal gravitation?

• The more mass an object has, the more gravitational attraction it has. The greater the distance between two objects, the less their gravitational attraction.

• Gravity pulled together a cloud of interstellar gas and dust (called a nebula). As the nebula spun, gravity condensed the gases into the center to form the Sun. Eventually, the gravity of smaller pieces of matter drew objects to them to form the planets.

• Gravity pulled together a cloud of interstellar gas and dust (called a nebula). As the nebula spun, gravity condensed the gases into the center to form the Sun. Eventually, the gravity of smaller pieces of matter drew objects to them to form the planets.

• It states that any two masses attract each other more when they are more massive (greater mass) and closer together (less distance).

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

asteroid

• A celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) is round or nearly round in shape (c) has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite (moon)

• Small rocky bodies orbiting the sun, especially between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

• A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere; also known as a "shooting star."

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

eccentricity

• The amount by which an object's orbit around another body deviates from a perfect circle.

• The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon

• A circular movement of an object around a center or an axis.

• The movement of one object around a center or around another object

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

astronomical unit (AU)

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the sun to the center of galaxy

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the earth to the center of the moon.

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the earth to the center of the sun.

• A unit of measurement equal to approximately the distance from the center of the earth to the end of the solar system.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

atmospheric conditions

• The conditions in the gases surrounding a star including the make-up of gases, temperature, and thickness of the gases.

• The conditions of the liquids surrounding a planet including their make-up, temperature, and thickness.

• The conditions in the gases surrounding a planet including the make-up of gases, temperature, and thickness of the gases.

• When the conditions of the planet are such that they dissipate into space form the planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

comet

• A small body moving in the solar system that would become a meteor if it entered the earth's atmosphere

• A meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere and part of it reaches the ground.

• A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere; also known as a "shooting star."

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

meteor

• A meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere and part of it reaches the ground.

• A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere; also known as a "shooting star."

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

• A small body moving in the solar system that would become a meteor if it entered the earth's atmosphere

meteoroid

• A small body moving in the solar system that would become a meteor if it entered the earth's atmosphere

• A meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere and part of it reaches the ground.

• A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere; also known as a "shooting star."

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

meteorite

• A small body moving in the solar system that would become a meteor if it entered the earth's atmosphere

• A celestial body consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles

• A meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere and part of it reaches the ground.

• A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere; also known as a "shooting star."