Space Vocabulary List & Definitions

Space Vocabulary List & Definitions eclipse galaxy gravity asteroid meteor meteorite moon orbit planet satellite black hole zenith comet constellation at a particular observation point, the blocking of light from one celestial body by another, such as the eclipse of the sun by the interposition of the moon, or the eclipse of the moon by the earth's coming between the sun and moon. a system of billions of stars and other matter held relatively close to each other by gravity and separated from other such systems by vast distances. the force by which a planet or other such body tends to draw objects toward its center. any of thousands of celestial bodies with diameters between one and five hundred miles that revolve around the sun in orbits located mostly between those of Jupiter and Mars; planetoid. a small mass, speck, or remnant of matter traveling through space or falling to earth, or the fiery streak in the sky made by the friction of its passage through the earth's atmosphere; meteorite or meteoroid. a mass of stone or metal falling to earth from outer space; meteoroid. any planet's natural satellite. the curved path in which a planet, satellite, or spacecraft revolves about another body. a large, non luminous celestial body, esp. one of the nine in the solar system, that revolves around a star and often has one or more satellites. a heavenly body that revolves around a planet or other larger body; moon. a hypothetical region or body in space, possibly the remnants of a collapsed star, with such a strong gravitational pull that neither light nor matter can escape. the point in the sky that is directly over the head of the observer. a heavenly body orbiting the sun, and having a nucleus surrounded by a nebulous sheath that may form an elongated tail when the body comes close to the sun. any of eighty-eight groupings or patterns of stars named after the animals, objects, or mythological characters they are thought to resemble. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1

Space Word Chop Worksheet Directions: The table below contains words that have been chopped in half. Find the pieces that fit together and write them in the answer area below. conste co llation gal or ipse mete black orite eor zen gra vity met pla ith axy mo ecl hole net aste sate met roid llite on bit Answers: Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2

Space Acrostic Poem An acrostic poem is one where you choose a word or name and use each letter in the name as the beginning of a word or line that tells something about that person or topic. Example: An acrostic poem using the word "Sun." Sometimes when we go to the beach, I will get sunburn. Usually, if I put sun block on my skin, I will not burn. Noon is when I'm really prone to burning. Write an Acrostic Poem using the word below. S P A C E Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3

Space Vocabulary Quiz Directions: Match the vocabulary words on the left with the definitions on the right. 1. black hole the point in the sky that is directly over the head of the observer. 2. constellation a heavenly body that revolves around a planet or other larger body; moon. 3. asteroid a large, non luminous celestial body, esp. one of the nine in the solar system, that revolves around a star and often has one or more satellites. 4. zenith the curved path in which a planet, satellite, or spacecraft revolves about another body. 5. planet a system of billions of stars and other matter held relatively close to each other by gravity and separated from other such systems by vast distances. 6. orbit at a particular observation point, the blocking of light from one celestial body by another, such as the eclipse of the sun by the interposition of the moon, or the eclipse of the moon by the earth's coming between the sun and moon. 7. moon a small mass, speck, or remnant of matter traveling through space or falling to earth, or the fiery streak in the sky made by the friction of its passage through the earth's atmosphere; meteorite or meteoroid. 8. meteor any planet's natural satellite. 9. satellite any of eighty-eight groupings or patterns of stars named after the animals, objects, or mythological characters they are thought to resemble. 10. eclipse the force by which a planet or other such body tends to draw objects toward its center. 11. comet a hypothetical region or body in space, possibly the remnants of a collapsed star, with such a strong gravitational pull that neither light nor matter can escape. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4

12. meteorite a heavenly body orbiting the sun, and having a nucleus surrounded by a nebulous sheath that may form an elongated tail when the body comes close to the sun. 13. galaxy any of thousands of celestial bodies with diameters between one and five hundred miles that revolve around the sun in orbits located mostly between those of Jupiter and Mars; planetoid. 14. gravity a mass of stone or metal falling to earth from outer space; meteoroid. Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5

Do The Research! Space Directions: Research the topic indicated to the right and answer the questions below based on that topic. Topic: WoW FActs! 1. Traveling at the speed of light, how long would it take you to get to Pluto? 2. Which galaxy is closest to us? How far is it away? 3. How many more years until the Sun runs out of fuel and burns out? Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6

Space Word Search Worksheet Directions: All words are positioned left to right, right to left, and diagonally. F J C O N S T E L L A T I O N A V X N S J E G R L P X V B V S C G I O L P Y Q R F E T U X T K Q D L B Q G L R G K Y U O H Q K Y S O L S U G B I E A D D A L V H K C I A Q N T P H K U W K M O Y T N V T M O C U B M O Z K L I J R S Z V Y P K A I E R U Q A L W C E A G A L A X Y G Y P Y Z T X A T C N A Z G N A K O T C S D V Q X P S Y A N P D P C G D I N E Q Y G E L X X Y G X C K I Y L D K Y T T M R T F N E B H F E A E Z U K I J D W E H E L P I Z X O W L E T R D X R Q P V H I M C T D X L L Y R R W Z K I D H N U H D O J O O E K Q Z E L S J W G S Z R D W Q S W L E C H O R P G G V E L M J U N K O L S I E E I N I R G G E N I T T J J E L O E E S D X W K R W P M T K J T Y Y A W C T W O V T C E O R B I T J R Y S B S S D S L Q H S M Q E B W P Z W L V V X K J C C O A V H Z C H U G M B A O O N A X L R Q H F Q F L E A K F V R Z O P METEORITE BLACK HOLE METEOR ORBIT ECLIPSE CONSTELLATION GALAXY MOON ZENITH GRAVITY PLANET SATELLITE ASTEROID COMET Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7

Space Cryptogram Worksheet Directions: Unscramble the words by placing the correct letter in the shaded boxes. Use the numbered boxes to complete the answer to the riddle. RIDDLE: How many minutes does it take light from the Sun to reach Earth? ERADOITS LXAAGY OECTM 1 2 ETMIREOTE _ 3 CLEPSEI NTHIZE 4 EALNPT BORTI MONO 5 _ ANSWER: _ 1 2 3 4 5 Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10

Space Group Creative Writing Directions: As a group, you have 25 minutes to write a brief story using the words below. METEORITE BLACK HOLE METEOR ORBIT ECLIPSE CONSTELLATION GALAXY MOON ZENITH GRAVITY PLANET SATELLITE ASTEROID COMET Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11

If I Was A...? Worksheet Space 1. Choose any planet. Pretend you are this planet for the remaining questions. 2. How many moons do you have? What are their names? 3. How far are you from the Sun? Are you colder or hotter than Earth? Planet's Name 4. How long is a day on your planet compared to Earth? 5. How long is a year on your planet compared to Earth? _ Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12

Answers to Cryptogram ERADOITS: Asteroid LXAAGY: Galaxy OECTM: Comet ETMIREOTE: CLEPSEI: Eclipse NTHIZE: Zenith EALNPT: Planet BORTI: Orbit MONO: Moon Riddle: Eight Teachnology, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18