Details Title: Astronomy Book Vocabulary Description: Chapter 3/Sections 1 & 2 Total Flash Cards: 14 Created: 06/26/2005 12:22:26		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Astronomy Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term geocentric Definition a model of the universe in which Earth is at the center of the revolving planets and stars Term heliocentric Definition a model of the solar system in which Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun Term ellipse Definition an oval shape, which may be elongated or nearly circular; the shape of the planets' orbits Term nuclear fusion Definition the process by which hydrogen atoms join together in the sun's core to form helium Term core Definition the central region of the sun, where nuclear fusion takes place     Term photosphere Definition the inner layer of the sun's atmosphere that gives off its visible light Term chromosphere Definition the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere Term corona Definition the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere Term solar wind Definition a stream of electrically charged particles  that emanate from the sun's corona Term sunspot Definition a dark area of gas on the sun's surface that is cooler than surrounding gases Term prominence Definition a huge, reddish loop of gas that protrudes from the sun's surface, linking parts of sunspot regions Term solar flare Definition an eruption of gas from the sun's surface that occurs when the loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect Term radiation zone Definition a region of very tightly packed gas in the sun's interior where energy is transferred mainly in the form of light Term convection zone Definition the outermost layer of the sun's interior