| A | B |
|---|
| axis | imaginary vertical line that cuts through the center of the earth |
| ellipse | closed curve that describes earths year long orbit around the sun |
| equinox | twice yearly (2 times) each spring and fall - when the sun is directly over the equator |
| full moon | when the whole surface of the light faces the sun |
| impact basin | the depression left behind when an object strikes the moon |
| lunar eclipse | when the moon and sun are in a perfect alignment |
| maria | dark colored relatively flat regions of the moon formed when acient lava reaches the surface and forms craters |
| moon phase | change in apperance of the moon as viewed from the earth due to the relative positions of the moon, earth and sun |
| new moon | moon phase that occurs when the moon is between earth and the sun at which point the moon cannot be seen |
| revolution | earth year long elliptical orbit around the sun |
| rotation | spinning of Earth on its axis which takes 24 hours to complete and causes day and night |
| solar eclipse | occurs when the moon passes directly between the sun and earth and casts a shadow over part of the earth |
| sphere | a whole circle and not flat |
| solstice | twice yearly point at which the sun reaches its greatest distance N/S of the equator |
| waning | describes phases that occur after a full moon |
| waxing | describes the phases after the new moon as more moon light side becomes visible |
