Astro Vocab 1

An object spinning on its own axis

• Revolution

• Rotation

• Revolve

• Rotate

The object's orbital motion around another object

• Revolution

• Rotation

• Revolve

• Rotate

A straight line about which a body or a geometric figure rotates or may be

supposed to rotate

• Azimuth

• Axis

• Transit

• Ecliptic

The angle between North and a celestial body, measured clockwise around the

observer's horizon (sun, moon)

• Azimuth

• Axis

• Transit

• Ecliptic

Occurs when one celestial object passes in front of another

• Azimuth

• Axis

• Transit

• Ecliptic

the great circle that is the apparent path of the Sun among the constellations in

the course of a year

• Azimuth

• Axis

• Transit

• Ecliptic

The two points in the sky where Earth's axis of rotation, indefinitely extended,

intersects the celestial sphere

• Poles

• Altitude

• Horizon

• Equater

The angular distance from horizon to object, measured along a vertical circle

• Poles

• Altitude

• Horizon

• Equater

Boundary where the sky seems to meet the ground or sea

• Poles

• Altitude

• Horizon

• Equater

The great circle in which the plane of the terrestrial Equator intersects the

celestial sphere

• Poles

• Altitude

• Horizon

• Equater