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53 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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In which climate zone does every location have at least one day a year when the sun is directly overhead? |
Tropics |
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Which method of measuring time uses time zones? |
standard solar time |
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What type of time is based on the stars? |
sidereal time |
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The point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer is called the __?__. |
zenith |
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What was the first artificial satellite of Earth? |
Sputnik I |
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What was the first satellite launched by the United States? |
Explorer I |
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What circle on the celestial sphere runs directly overhead and through the celestial poles? |
meridian |
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The path the sun follows in a year is the __?__. |
ecliptic |
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A device that splits light into a spectrum for analysis is a __?__. |
spectroscope |
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What system of timekeeping divides the day into hours A.M. and P.M.? |
12-hour time |
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The equation of time is the relationship between mean solar time and __?__. |
apparent solar time |
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What term refers to an unmanned spacecraft launched specifically to explore the unknown? |
space probe |
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What are the two points on the path of the sun at which the sun is farthest from the celestial equator? |
solstices |
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In what type of orbit does a satellite stay above the same point on the Earth's surface? |
geostationary (orbit) |
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Which calendar system is now used in most nations? |
Gregorian calendar |
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What term refers to the earth's slow "wobble" on its axis that causes the pole star to change? |
precession (of the equinoxes) |
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What visible-light telescope was launched into space in 1990? |
Hubble Space Telescope |
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What unit of time is based on the period Earth takes orbit the sun once? |
solar year |
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used to study the heavens |
astronomical |
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perform a variety of functions, such as making maps, forecasting crop production, spotting forest fires, and surveying cities |
Earth observation |
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relay telephone conversations and radio and television broadcasts |
communications |
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include the satellites of the Global Positioning System |
navigational |
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A telescope that uses a mirror as the objective is a __?__ telescope. |
reflecting |
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The abbreviation A.D. stand for __?__. |
anno Domini |
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The technique in which computer-controlled mirrors constantly flex and bend to correct for atmospheric distortion is __?__. |
adaptive optics |
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When white light shines through a gas and then passes through a prism, the broad spectrum of color will show narrow, dark lines called __?__. |
absorption lines |
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The mean solar time at Earth's prime meridian is called __?__. |
UTC (or coordinated universal time) |
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In which type of orbit does a satellite cross the equator at the same local mean solar time on every orbit? |
sun-synchronous orbit |
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Which type of orbit would a spacecraft use to increase its altitude? |
Hohmann transfer orbit |
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From which calendar do the English month names come? |
Julian |
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What was the first space station designed so that it could be expanded? |
Mir |
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What astronomical event marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere? |
December solstice |
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A circumpolar star that crosses the meridian between the visible celestial pole and the horizon is making an __?__ transit. |
lower |
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What United States' space program landed a man on the moon? |
Apollo |
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At an altitude of 500 miles above the earth, a satellite with a speed of 16,700 mph will have a circular orbit. Which of the following describes the orbit of a satellite at an altitude of 500 miles and a speed of 17,100 mph? |
The satellite will have an elliptical orbit with the highest point above 500 miles. |
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What rocket design did the United States use to launch manned moon missions? |
Saturn V |
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What term refers to the highest point of the orbit of an earth-orbiting satellite? |
apogee |
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What part of a telescope collects light? |
objective |
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The term that refers to the speed of spacecraft must be traveling at to leave Earth's gravity without using its rockets anymore is __?__. |
escape velocity |
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The unit of time, larger than a day, that is NOT based on the motion of a heavenly body is the __?__. |
week |
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The first type of spacecraft designed to be reused was the __?__. |
space shuttle |
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A rocket that can be stored for years with the fuel loaded is a(n) __?__ rocket. |
solid-fuel |
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Scientists can use multiple radio telescopes to produce images more detailed than possible with a single radio telescope by using the technique called __?__. |
interferometry |
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The two points at which the path of the sun crosses the celestial equator is called __?__. |
equinoxes |
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The two basic kinds of optical telescopes are the __?__ telescope and the __?__ telescope. |
refracting and relecting |
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first American in space |
Alan Shepard |
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first woman in space |
Valentina Tereshkova |
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Father of Modern Rocketry |
Robert Goddard |
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first man in space |
Yuri Gagarin |
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first American to orbit the earth |
John Glenn |
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German-born engineer who became the United States' top rocket designer |
Wernher von Braun |
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first man to set foot on the moon |
Neil Armstrong |
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ESSAY: Explain why the Julian and Gregorian calendars have leap years and contrast how these calendars determine which years are leap years. |
Answers should include the following:
Leap years are needed because there is not a whole number of days in a solar year. In the Julian calendar, every fourth year is a leap year. The Gregorian calendar's major difference from the Julian calendar is the elimination of leap years for all century years except those evenly divisible by 400. |
