Unit 1 Space Vocabulary

H-R Diagram

• Chart that plots stars based on temperature and luminosity

• A graph showing the distance of stars from Earth

• A diagram illustrating the lifecycle of stars

• A map of constellations in the night sky

Gravity

• The force that causes objects to float in space

• The attractive force, or pull, between objects that have mass

• The energy that objects possess due to their motion

• The resistance encountered by objects moving through air

Star

• A giant ball of burning gases that gives off light and heat energy

• A small, cold rock floating in space

• A massive planet with a solid surface

• A celestial body that orbits a star

Universe

• All of outer space and the matter and objects within it

• A vast collection of stars and planets only

• A region of space with no matter

• The area surrounding Earth only

Nebula

• A type of star

• A cloud of gas and dust where stars are born

• A planet in the solar system

• A black hole

Galaxy

• A system of stars, dust, and gas held together by gravity

• A large collection of planets orbiting a star

• A cluster of asteroids and comets

• A region of space devoid of matter

Electromagnetic Spectrum

• All of the different wavelengths of light.

• A type of sound wave.

• A measure of temperature in space.

• A form of mechanical energy.

Luminosity

• Measure of the brightness of stars

• A type of star classification

• The distance of a star from Earth

• The temperature of a star's surface

Nuclear Fusion

• Where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium (energy given off)

• A process where atoms split apart releasing energy

• A reaction that occurs in the Earth's core

• The method of generating energy through chemical reactions

Main Sequence Star

• A type of star that is in the process of forming

• Where a star spends most of its life (our sun)

• A star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel

• A star that is about to explode as a supernova