Which of the following is NOT included in our solar system?

The Sun is the closest star to Earth. It is a giant, spinning ball of very hot gas that is fueled by ________ reactions.

Which planet is described as a small, rocky planet with a very elliptical orbit and almost no atmosphere?

Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, with a dense atmosphere that is about 95% carbon dioxide.

According to the diagram, which planet is located between Earth and Jupiter?

How many moons does Earth have?

What is the average surface temperature range of Earth?

Mars is known as the ______ planet because of its red color.

Which planet is about half the size of Earth and has a dry, rocky surface with a very thin atmosphere?

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.

Saturn is known for its ______ and colorful rings.

Which planet has the coldest average surface temperature out of the choices below?

Uranus' blue color is caused by the ______ in its atmosphere.

Neptune is the ______ planet from the Sun.

Which planet has strong winds due to the release of thermal energy from its core?

What is the surface temperature of Saturn?

What is a dwarf planet?

Which of the following statements about Pluto is true?

A moon is a natural satellite that revolves around a planet.

Asteroids are rock fragments of various shapes and sizes that revolve around the Sun. Most asteroids are found in a region called the _______ belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up, it is called a _______.

A comet is a small object that orbits the Sun in a highly elliptical path and is made up of ______, gas, and dust.

The Sun's mass is ______ times greater than the mass of the Earth.

The time it takes a planet to travel once around the Sun is called a _______.

The imaginary rod extending through Earth between the North Pole and the South Pole is called the _______.

As Earth spins on its axis, half of Earth is always facing toward the Sun and experiences _______.

Each rotation (day) of Earth takes about how many hours?

Each planet and moon have a different length of time for one rotation. For instance, on Neptune one rotation (one day) takes ______ Earth hours.

Refer to the diagram showing Earth's axis and Sun's rays. What does the diagram illustrate?

The phases of the moon are caused by the moon’s position relative to Earth and the Sun. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the moon?

The moon completes one rotation in the same amount of time it takes to orbit Earth once, so the same side of the moon always faces _______.

Which phase of the moon appears dark from Earth and is not visible in the night sky?

During which moon phase does a thin sliver of light appear on the right side of the moon’s disk as seen from Earth?

When the right half of the moon’s face is illuminated, what is this phase called?

At full moon, the moon is on the _______ side of Earth from the Sun, and the side of the moon facing Earth is completely illuminated by the Sun.

Which moon phase occurs when more than half of the moon’s face is illuminated and the sunlit portion gets larger until it is fully illuminated?

During which moon phase are the Earth, moon, and Sun aligned so that the full sunlit portion of the moon’s face is visible from Earth?

What is another name for the Waning Half moon phase?

Which moon phase begins when less than half of the moon’s face is illuminated and the portion that is lit will grow smaller until the moon is no longer visible?

The cause of seasonal changes on Earth is the tilt of Earth's axis (23.5°) and the revolution of Earth around the Sun. True or False: The axis always points in the same direction, almost directly toward the North Star, while Earth orbits the Sun.

What is the main reason the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer?

The cause of seasonal changes on Earth is the tilt of Earth's axis (23.5°) and the revolution of Earth around the Sun. True or False: The seasons are determined by Earth's distance from the Sun.

What causes tides on Earth?

Tides are the periodic rise and falling of large bodies of water. True or False: The moon has more influence on Earth's tides than the Sun because it is closer to Earth.

What happens to the ocean level between the tidal bulges?

How long does it take for the water level to change from high to low tide?

Who was the Greek philosopher who believed in an Earth-centered (geocentric) solar system and whose ideas lasted almost 2,000 years?

Who was the first person to look at the moon through a telescope and discovered four of Jupiter's moons?

In what year was the first satellite, Sputnik, launched?

Who was the first man in space?

Which country achieved the first manned orbital mission of the USA, and who was the astronaut?

Who was the first man to walk on the moon?

What is the name of the telescope that went into orbit in 1990?

What is a thunderstorm?

What are the conditions needed for the formation of a thunderstorm?

Where and when are thunderstorms most likely to occur? With the right conditions, thunderstorms can form anywhere. They are most likely to happen in ______ and ______ late in the day.

What is a hurricane?

What are the conditions needed for the formation of a hurricane?

Where do hurricanes form and what causes them to weaken? Hurricanes form over ______ and weaken over land when they no longer gain thermal energy from ______.

What is a tornado?

What are the conditions needed for the formation of a tornado?

When and where do tornadoes most often occur? Tornadoes occur at any time of year and just about anywhere in the world where there are ______ over land. Many occur in the stormy spring when warm and cold air masses collide.

Which of the following best describes cirrus clouds?

Cumulus clouds are individual, puffy, white clouds with fairly flat bases. They are often seen on ______ days.

Stratus clouds can sometimes cover the entire sky and are found at ______ levels in the atmosphere.

Refer to the diagram of cloud types and their altitudes. Which cloud type is found at the highest altitude?

What does the term 'nimbus' indicate when used in a cloud name?

Cumulonimbus clouds are the classic thunderheads with a flat base and anvil top. They may predict which of the following?

Drought occurs when there is a prolonged period of ______ average precipitation.

What does a low-pressure system (labeled 'L' on a weather map) usually indicate?

In the Northern Hemisphere, air flows in which direction around a low-pressure area?

A high-pressure system (labeled 'H' on a weather map) usually means there will be ________ days and calm weather, with little or no precipitation.