1. Science Language and Vocabulary
Astronomy
Science Language and Vocabulary

2. The spinning of objects around an imaginary center line
axis of rotation
The spinning of objects around an imaginary center line

3. The path a planet or moon takes during its revolution
orbit
The path a planet or moon takes during its revolution

4. the different shapes of the moon during a lunar cycle
phases of the moon
the different shapes of the moon during a lunar cycle

5. the process of bouncing off
reflection
the process of bouncing off

6. the circling of an object in space around another object in space
revolution
the circling of an object in space around another object in space

7. Earth’s axis of rotation
imaginary poles on which the Earth spins

8. Earth’s tilt
23.5° angle

9. irregular pieces of rock that move through space
asteroids
irregular pieces of rock that move through space

10. all of the different objects in space that make up our universe
celestial objects
all of the different objects in space that make up our universe

11. comets
celestial objects made up of dust, ice, and gases that orbit the sun in a large, elliptical course

12. the measure of the amount of space between objects
distance
the measure of the amount of space between objects

13. the measurement of the pull of gravity
gravitational pull
the measurement of the pull of gravity

14. the attraction of one mass to another
gravity
the attraction of one mass to another

15. the amount of matter in something
mass
the amount of matter in something

16. meteor
one of the small particles of matter in the solar system that is visible when it falls into Earth’s atmosphere

17. planet
a celestial object, larger than asteroids or comets, that revolves around a star without giving off its own light

18. satellite
a natural or man made object that revolves around larger objects in space

19. objects compared to a standard for accurate size perception
scale
objects compared to a standard for accurate size perception

20. solar system
the system made up of the eight unique planet, and many smaller objects that orbit the sun

21. celestial objects that consist of gases which generate light and heat
stars
celestial objects that consist of gases which generate light and heat

22. sun
the star that is the basis of the solar system and sustains life on Earth as the source of heat and light

23. an instrument that magnifies or makes distant objects appear larger
telescope
an instrument that magnifies or makes distant objects appear larger

24. a pattern in the stars that has been identified and named
constellation
a pattern in the stars that has been identified and named

25. a group of millions of stars held together by gravity
galaxy
a group of millions of stars held together by gravity

26. the distance light can travel in one year
light-years
the distance light can travel in one year

27. Milky Way Galaxy
a group of about 200 billion stars formed in a disk shaped spiral that contains our solar system

28. 186,000 miles per second or 300,000 kilometers per second
speed of light
186,000 miles per second or 300,000 kilometers per second

29. universe
the space that consists of all matter and all light and other forms of radiation and energy