Astronomy and Earth Science Vocabulary

A group of stars in specific patterns that move through the sky during the night, but do not change shape or size because the distance between any two stars stays the same is called a ________.

• constellation

• galaxy

• asteroid

• comet

The path that a body follows as it travels around another body in space is called an ________.

• orbit

• axis

• rotation

• eclipse

The change in the sunlit area of one celestial body, such as Earth, that happens in regular patterns is called a ________.

• phase

• rotation

• orbit

• eclipse

When the moon is between Earth and the sun and is completely dark because the side that reflects sunlight is facing away from Earth, it is called a ________.

• new moon

• full moon

• waxing gibbous

• first quarter

A thin sliver of the moon becomes visible and continues to grow. This phase is called ________.

• waxing crescent

• waning crescent

• full moon

• new moon

From Earth’s Northern Hemisphere, the right half of the moon appears fully lit. This phase is called ________.

• first quarter

• full moon

• new moon

• last quarter

The sunlit fraction of the moon that is visible from Earth continues to grow. This phase is called ________.

• waxing gibbous

• waning crescent

• new moon

• full moon

When the entire sunlit fraction of the moon is visible from Earth, it is called a ________.

• full moon

• new moon

• crescent moon

• half moon

The sunlit fraction of the moon that is visible from Earth decreases, meaning the part of the moon we see is getting smaller. This phase is called ________.

• waning gibbous

• waxing crescent

• full moon

• new moon

From Earth’s Northern Hemisphere, the left half of the moon appears fully lit. This phase is called ________.

• third quarter

• first quarter

• full moon

• new moon