Goal 3 Science Vocabulary Third Grade Sun, Moon, Stars
solar system
Planet
the sun and the objects that orbit around it
large body of rock or gas that orbits the sun
Constellation
sun
a group of stars that form a pattern
the center of the solar system, also a star
moon
star
Earth’s only natural satellite
a hot ball of glowing gases
elliptical
magnitude magnitude of a solar eclipse
circular path, circular orbit
measurement of an eclipse
meteor
meteorite A complete stone meteorite (L6 chondrite) recovered in McLennan County, Texas. This meteorite was part of the spectacular February 15, 2009 fireball filmed by a cameraman in Austin.
Streak of light or the path we see when a meteorite passes through the earth’s atmosphere, also known as a falling star
metal, rocks, and other debris found in the solar system that reaches the ground, can be large or small
asteroid
comet
chunk of rock or metal that orbits the sun
large ball of ice and dust that orbits the sun
opaque
transparent
light cannot shine through
light can shine through
translucent
orbit
light is filtered through
the path an object takes as it moves around another object in space
reflection
rotation
bouncing of light off an object
spinning of an object on its axis
revolution
solar
movement of one object around another object
of or about the sun
lunar
sundial
of or about the moon
measures time by the position of the sun
shadow
eclipse
created when an object is in the path of a direct light source
when one object moves into the shadow of another
binoculars telescope
axis ( tilt )
devices that help people see objects at a distance
an imaginary line that goes through the North Pole and South Pole of Earth
waxing
waning °.
phase of the moon during afternoon and night hours
phase of moon during early morning and morning hours
phase
craters
the illuminated part of the moon we see, the different shapes of the moon
happens when one object impacts another
terminator
planisphere
an imaginary line that separates day and night on earth
star chart