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Introduction
Charting the Heavens
47
Astronomy
Undergraduate 1
01/29/2011

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Cards

Term
Astronomy
Definition
the study of the universe
Term
light years
Definition
distance traveled by light in a year
Term
constellations
Definition
stars into configurations
Term
celestial sphere
Definition
a canopy of stars resembling an astronomical painting on a heavenly ceiling contains all the stars
Term
diurnal rotation
Definition
apparent daily rotation of the celestial sphere due to Earth's rotation on its axis
Term
Polaris
Definition
The North Star
Term
celestial poles
Definition
the points where Earth's axis intersect the celestial sphere sphere
Term
North Celestial Pole
Definition
the point on the C.S. directly above Earth's North Pole
Term
South Celestial Pole
Definition
point on the C.S. directly above Earth's South Pole
Term
Celestial equator
Definition
represents the intersection of Earth's equatorial plane with the celestial sphere
Term
Celestial equator divides C.S. into two halves
Definition
the North Celestial Hemisphere and the South Celestial Hemisphere
Term
zenith
Definition
At the North Pole, the NCP appears directly overhead
Term
the point on the celestial sphere directly over your head
Definition
nadir
Term
circumpolar stars
Definition
stars near the NCP seem to never set
Term
equatorial stars
Definition
stars near C.E. seem to rise in east and set in west
Term
Basic social time unit
Definition
24-hour solar day
Term
local celestial meridian
Definition
line running from the NCP to your zenith to SCP to your nadir back to NCP
Term
solar noon
Definition
time when Sun is on the LCM
Term
mean solar time
Definition
hour angle of the Sun with the LCM
Term
Mean Sidereal Time
Definition
hour angle of the vernal equinox with the LCM
Term
ecliptic
Definition
motion of the Sun on the sky traces out a path on the celestial sphere
Term
summer solstice
Definition
the point on the ecliptic where the Sun is at its northernmost point above the celestial equator
Term
winter solstice
Definition
the shortest day in Earth's Northern Hemisphere and the longest in the Sourthen Hemisphere
Term
autumnal equinox
Definition
occurs in the southern autumn
Term
vernal equinox
Definition
occurs in the northern spring
Term
Altitude
Definition
angle between the object and a point on the horizon directly beneath the object
Term
azimuth
Definition
angle between the point on the horizon directly beneath the object and north
Term
declination
Definition
angle of an object north or south of the C.E.
Term
right ascension
Definition
angle of an object eastward from the Vernal Equinox
Term
Star charts are marked by their
Definition
epoch
Term
precession
Definition
caused by torques on Earth due to the gravitational pulls of the Moon and the Sun
Term
magnitude
Definition
how bright a star
Term
cycle of changes
Definition
phases
Term
Eclipse
Definition
Sun and Moon line up precisely as seen from Earth
Term
Lunar Eclipse
Definition
Sun and Moon are in exactly opposite directions; full moon
Term
Partial lunar eclipse
Definition
never completely covers the Moon
Term
Total lunar eclipse
Definition
entire lunar surface is obscured
Term
Solar eclipse
Definition
Moon passes directly in front of the Sun
Term
Umbra
Definition
the eclipse is partial
Term
Penumbra
Definition
the eclipse is partial
Term
annular solar eclipse
Definition
the Moon falls to completely hide the Sun
Term
parallax
Definition
the apparent displacement of a foreground object relative to the background as the observer's location changes
Term
Astronomical Unit
Definition
equal to the distance between the Earth and the Sun
Term
1st quarter moon rises
Definition
6 hours before sunset (noon)
Term
Full moon rises
Definition
at sunset
Term
total solar eclipse
Definition
new moon
Term
hydrogen bond
Definition
1 electron and proton
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