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astronomy test 1
test 1
99
Astronomy
Not Applicable
09/18/2006

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Term
asterism
Definition
a group of stars familiar to most people-usually part of a constellation
Term
Zodiacal Constellations
Definition
those that the sun travles through in a year
Term
Eliptic
Definition
the path the sun appears to follow across the backgroud of the stars throughout the year
Term
Latitude
Definition
Imaginary lines that run E and W on the globe and measure positions N and S of the equator
Term
Latitude
Definition
(meridians) inaginary lines that run N and S on the globe adn meaure locations E and W of a point zero
Term
Celestial sphere
Definition
an imaginary sphere that surrounds the earth. it appears to rotate around the earth once every 24 hours along an imaginary line extending from the earth's axes.
Term
Celestial equator
Definition
divides the celestial shpere into 2 halves (just like the equator)
Term
Celestial N and S poles
Definition
Extentions of the Earth's N and S rotational axes
Term
Zenith
Definition
point on the celestial sphere directly overhead.
Term
Meridians
Definition
passes through both celestial poles and your zenith. This divides the sky into eastern adn western halves. A star rises in the eastern sky, crosses the merisian and sets in the western sky.
Term
celestial horizon
Definition
great circle 90 degrees from your zenith- your "horizon"
Term
Altitude
Definition
angular distance above the celestial horizon. Similar to latitude.
Term
Azimuth
Definition
anular distance measured eastward from north around the celestial horizon to the point directly below the chosen position on the celestial sphere. Similar to longitude.
Term
Horizon system
Definition
locations are given by altitude adn azimuth
Term
Equatorial System
Definition
2 referene points are
- Celestial equator
- location of the Vernal Equinox
Term
Declination (Dec)- (equivalent to latitude)
Definition
Measure of the angular distance above the celestial horizon
Term
Right Ascension (RA) (equivalent to longitude)
Definition
angular distance measured eastward from the vernal equinox
Term
Rotation
Definition
spinning of the earth about it's axis
1 rotation = 24 hours = days
Term
Revolution
Definition
movement of the earth around the sun.
the obris is elliptical with the un at the focus.
travles at 67 MPH = year = seasons
Term
Perihelion
Definition
when a planet is close to the sun
Term
aphelion
Definition
when a planet is furthest from the sun
Term
Ecliptic
Definition
the path the sun aappears to take against the background of the stars throughout the year.
travles eastward
Term
precession
Definition
wobble of the earth's axis
the 23.5 degree tilt is maintained while the direction of the axis points varies.
the period of the wobble is 26,000 years = 1 wobble
Term
direct (vertical) rays
Definition
strike perpendicular to the earth's surface
Term
inclined rays
Definition
strike the earth's surface at some angle. the more inclined the rays, the less efficiently the earth's surface is heated.
Term
apparent solar day
Definition
time interval between successive appearances of te sun on the meridian (i.e. time from one high moon to the next) Avg. length is 24 hours.
Term
Sidereal day
Definition
time it takes a star other than the sun to return to the meridian. Interval is 23 hrs. 56 mins 4 secs
Term
Mean Solar time
Definition
Average solar day ( the longest apparent solar day in about 1 minute longer than the shortest apparent solar day)
Term
Tropical year
Definition
length of time it takes the sun to return to the vernal equinox (i.e. 1 year) the time is actually 365.24 days.
Term
Pedigree
Definition
the moon is closest to the earth
Term
apogee
Definition
the moon is furthest from the earth
Term
Synodic month
Definition
length of time required for the moon to return to the same position in the sky relative to the sun. Aprox. 295 days
Term
Sidereal Month
Definition
length of time required for the moonto return to the same place among the stars. About 27.3 days
Term
Crescent moon
Definition
less than half of the illuminated side is facig us
Term
Gibbous moon
Definition
more than half of the illuminated side is facing us
Term
Waxing
Definition
the bright part of the moon is getting bigger
Term
Waning
Definition
the bright part of the moon is getting smaller
Term
Synchronous rotation
Definition
the time of oue complete rotation is equal to that of one complete revolution (thus we see the same side of the moon all the time
Term
Eclipse season
Definition
the only time an eclipse can occur. does not mean one will
Term
Lunar Eclipse
Definition
occurs when the earth passes between the sun adn the moon
Term
partial Lunar Eclipse
Definition
occurs if the allignment is imperfect. the shadow never completely covers the moon
Term
total lunar eclipse
Definition
occurs if the alignment is perfect. the entire lunar surface is obscured
Term
solar eclipse
Definition
occurs when the moon moves between the earth adn the sun
Term
Umbra
Definition
central region of the shadow. A total eclipse is seen here
Term
Prenumbra
Definition
within the shadow but outside the umbra. The eclipse is partial
Term
partial solar eclipse
Definition
occurs if teh alignment is imperfect. the shadow never completely covers the sun
Term
total solar eclipse
Definition
occurs if the allignment is perfect. the entire solar surface is obscured.
Term
annular eclipse
Definition
there is no region of totality. a thin ring of sun can be seen around the moon
Term
prograde motion
Definition
things travel eastward
Term
retrograde motion
Definition
things travel westward
Term
Geocentric Model
Definition
the earth is stationary at the center of the universe. all of the planets revolve around the earth in circular orbits.
Term
Claudius Ptolemy
Definition
accounted for retrograde motion by using: epicycles and deferebt

Problem- as measurements became more precise, it failed to predice planetary motion.
Term
Epicycles
Definition
circular motion a planet takes on its obrit around the Earth
Term
Deferent
Definition
circular path aroud the Earth. (whole curve)
Term
Nicholas Copernicus
Definition
proposed the heliocentric model of the universe. He figured it out! Divided planets into inferior adn superior.
Term
Heliocentric model
Definition
states that the un is at the center of the universe.
Term
inferior planets
Definition
planets that orbit inside the earth's orbit (mercury adn venus)
Term
Superior planets
Definition
planets that have larger orbital paths than Earth.
Term
Tyco Brahe
Definition
collected HUGE data set
Proposed wierd model
Term
Johannes Kepler
Definition
mars adn earth had eliptical orbits
discovered mathematical relationship between the planets adn thisr periods of revolution
Term
Kepler's 3 laws
Definition
1- a planet moves on an eliptical orbit with the sun at one focus.

2- a planet moves so that an imaginary line connecting the planet to the Sun sweeps out equal aread in equal intervals of time.

3- there is an underlying mathematic principle that governs the orbital motion of planets.
Term
Focus
Definition
one of two fixed points on an ellipse that can be defined mathematically
Term
eccentricity
Definition
ration between the distance between the foci to the length of the major axis

ranges form 0-1 0=circular 1=straight line
Term
perihelion
Definition
occurs when a planet is close to the sun
Term
Galileo Galilei
Definition
first to make detailed observations of the planets adn stars with a telescope.
Stars- many more than could be seen with naked eye
- stars did not get bigger when viewed throgh telescope.

Moon and sun
-moon was not smooth, had mts. and valleys
-viewed sun sopts moving on the sun

-saw satelites orbiting Jupiter

-saw that Venus had phases like the moon does (crescent, full)

Work was published in 1632 "The Dialogue"
Term
"The Dialogue" Galileo Galilei
Definition
Published in Latin, had wide audiance

conflicted with the Catholic Church

was banned

Galilei was kicked out of church and spent the rest of his life under house arrest

church released ban 200 yrs. later

Galileo was exonerated in 1993
Term
telescope
Definition
light buchet...gathers light
Term
eyepiece lense
Definition
a lense that magnifies the image produced by the objective lens.
Term
objective lens
Definition
a lens that produces an image by bendinglight froma distant object in such a way that the light converges at an area called the focal point.

produces a very small, bright image and the eyepiece lens enlarges the imagge so details can be seen.
Term
focal point
Definition
the point where refracted light converges.
Term
focal length
Definition
the distance between the lense adn it's focal point

controled by the curvature of the lens
Term
highly curved = short focal length
Definition
slightly curved = long focal length
Term
disadvantages of refracting telescopes
Definition
- chromatic aberation- lens focuses red adn blue light diffrently

-large lens is very heavy adn may cause warpage through time

-front and back surface must be ground adn polished, very difficult
Term
advantages of a reflecting telescope
Definition
-no chromatic abrasion

-no warping with time

-no expensive adn time consuming pilishing
Term
properties of optical telescopes
Definition
- light gathering power

-resolving power (can distinguish fine details)

-magnifying power
(high magnifying power= blury image)
Term
Altitude
Definition
the atmosphere absorbe light, at high altitudes the atmosphere is thinner adn absorbs less light
Term
weather
Definition
on mountain tops air is stable and doesn't blur the image
Term
light pollution
Definition
bright syk, hard to see stars.
Term
disadvantage fo radio telescope
Definition
poor resolution
Term
interfreometry
Definition
using 2+ telescopes in tandem at the same time to observe the same object at the same wavelength
Term
Astornomical Unit (AU)
Definition
distance form the earth to the sun = 93,000,000 mi x 40 = distance to pluto

pluto is 40 AU away
Term
Eccentricity (e)
Definition
describes the shape of an orbit 0-1

highly eccentrig orbit is nearly elliptical
Term
Titus-Bode law
Definition
predicts the distance to planets orbit fairly well.

the distance from planes a. to planet b. = X

the distance from planet b. to planet c. = 2X and so on
Term
Problem
Definition
should be a planet between Mars adn jupiter....but instead there's the asteroid belt
Term
asteroid
Definition
a small solar system object in an eccentric orbit around the sun compused mostly of rock
Term
Kuiper Belt
Definition
an area of the slar system extending fomr within the orbit of Neptune (30 AU) to 50 AU from the sun..on the same plane as the rest...may be as many as 100 million Kuiper Belt Comets.
Term
To Be a planet you must...
Definition
1. brbit the sun
2. be big enough for gravity to squash you into a ball
3. have cleared other things out of your way in your orbital neighborhood
Term
To be a 'Dwarf Planet" you must...
Definition
be round
Term
interplanetary debris
Definition
the countless chunks of rock adn ice all orbiting on highly eccentric paths. ranges in size from that of largest asteroids to that of dust.
Term
Asteroid
Definition
a small solar system object in an eccentric orbit composed mostly of rock. Irregular in shape adn can range in size from 10 M to 1000 Kilometers.
Term
Meteroid
Definition
a solid body moving in space that is smaller than an asteroid adn bigger than a speck of dust
Term
Meteor
Definition
a bright trail or streak that appears in the sky when a meteroid is heated to incandescence by friction with the earth's atmosphere. Also called a shooting star.
Term
Meteor shower
Definition
an event where meteors can be seen each hour.
Term
Radiant
Definition
the direction in the sky form hich a meteor enters the atmosphere and form which the shower meteors appear to radiate
Term
meteorite
Definition
any part od a meteroid that survives passage through teh atmosphere adn lands on the earth's surface.
Term
Commets
Definition
"dirty snowalls" made of ice adn rock

travel at 60 70 km/sec

take hundreds+ years to complete an orbit
Term
parts of a comet
Definition
nucleus- solid rock

coma- dust adn gas

tail- water, gasses, dust
Term
2 tails of a comet
Definition
1- dust tail- composed os ionized atoms

2- ion tail- rich in microscopic dust particles
Term
origins of comets
Definition
Kuiper belt

Oort cloud
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