Unit 3 Vocab

astronomer a person whose job it is to study space

axis the imaginary line that goes through the Earth from pole to pole

constellation a pattern of stars in the night sky

hemisphere half of the Earth

lunar anything having to do with the moon

the path a planet follows when revolving around the sun orbit the path a planet follows when revolving around the sun

phases the changes in appearance of the moon’s shape as seen from Earth

probes vehicles that move through space without any person driving them, and are controlled by computers on Earth

quarter a phase of the moon representing half the moon as being lit

spinning of the Earth that results in days and nights rotate spinning of the Earth that results in days and nights

revolve the orbit around the sun that brings about changes in the seasons

an object that revolves around another larger object in space satellite an object that revolves around another larger object in space

seasons one of the four natural divisions of the year characterized by temperature and weather....caused by the revolution of the Earth

solar anything having to do with the sun

telescope a tool that uses lenses to make faraway objects appear closer

period during which the moon appears to be reflecting MORE light; begins at New Moon and goes until the moon reaches Full Moon

waning period during which the moon appears to be reflecting LESS light; begins after Full Moon and goes until the moon reaches New Moon