Planetary flashcard 6

Front

What shape is Earth's orbit?

Back

Ellipse

Front

What is the imaginary axle that a planet spins on called?

Back

Axis

Front

Which celestial bodies orbit planets and which orbit the Sun?

Back

Moons orbit planets; comets and asteroids orbit the Sun.

Front

What is the primary force responsible for keeping planets in orbit around the Sun?

Back

Gravity

Front

What type of eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the view of the Sun for an observer on Earth?

Back

Total solar eclipse

Front

What is the term for the path that a celestial body follows around another body in space?

Back

Orbit

Front

What is the name of the force that attracts two bodies towards each other?

Back

Gravitational force

Front

What is the term for the tilt of a planet on its axis?

Back

Axial tilt

Front

What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?

Back

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks the Sun; a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon.

Front

What is the term for a small rocky body that orbits the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt?

Back

Asteroid