SPACE VOCABULARY Mrs. Padilla

Sphere

A round object, like a globe. In space, a planet, moon or star.

Axis

The line around which a body, or planet, rotates

Ellipse

In space, an orbit that is not flat

Solstice The two times a year (December and

June) when the Earth’s axis points most towards or away from the sun.

Moon Phase

The step in the journey around the Earth that the moon takes; can be seen in various phases with different amounts of light and dark

Waxing

What you do to a surfboard In science, when the moon is growing

brighter Wax “on”

Waning

When your interest in someone or something fades

In science, when the surface of the moon is growing darker

New moon

The name of the second in the series of popular Twilight books

When the moon is in the phase where the side facing the Earth is completely dark

First Quarter

The first $.25 you made as a kid The phase in the lunar cycle wherein half

of the moon is illuminated

Third quarter

The part of the pie you get when you’re not the first in line for dessert

The phase of the moon when half is illuminated, opposite sides from 1st quarter

Solar eclipse

When the moon blocks light from the Sun from landing on the Earth

Solar eclipse

Lunar eclipse

When the Earth gets in the way of the Sun’s light and casts a shadow on the moon

Lunar eclipse (last fall!)

Maria

Dark spots on the surface of the moon Caused by asteroids hitting the surface

hard enough that lava seeped up and filled in the surface

Equinox Twice a year (March and September)

when the Earth’s axis is halfway between the two extreme points, creating 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark

Revolution

One body going around another

Moon revolves around Earth

Earth revolves around Sun