Vocab quiz

An astronomical measurement equal to the distance from Earth to the Sun, used for comparing distances within the solar system.

A phenomenon resulting in higher tides occurring when the sun and moon are aligned, causing their gravitational forces to combine.

The force that explains why planets orbit the sun and why objects fall towards the Earth, depending on mass and distance.

The cycle of different appearances of the moon as it orbits Earth, including new moon, gibbous, and full moon phases.

The region in space beyond Neptune filled with icy objects, including comets, that provides information about how our solar system was formed.

A large, spherical object found in the asteroid belt that is classified as a dwarf planet due to its size and shape.

The difference between the smaller rocky planets close to the sun and the larger gaseous planets further out in the solar system.

The characteristic shape of a planet's orbit, which has two focal points, one of which is occupied by the sun.

The name for the space debris that can enter Earth's atmosphere and may become visible as a bright streak of light.

The climate phenomenon where oceans absorb and slowly release heat, which helps to regulate Earth's temperature.

The phenomenon that occurs when the moon blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth, creating a shadow on Earth.

This term describes the gravitational force between two objects based on their masses and the distance between them, governing how planets orbit the sun.

The two different types of tides caused by the relative positions of the sun, moon, and Earth; one type has higher tides and the other has lower.

This term refers to the distance something travels around the sun in a year, which takes about 365.25 days for Earth.

These types of asteroids are found in a region between Mars and Jupiter, which contains many rocky bodies.