| A | B |
|---|
| Earth Science | studies earth's unique characteristics |
| meteorologist | study of atmosphere and weather |
| astronomy | study of all matter outside of Earth's atmosphere |
| geologist | study of earth's layers and rocks |
| oceanographer | study of oceans |
| seismology | study of earthquakes |
| mineralogy | study of minerals |
| axis | the earth rotates around this central line |
| sun | the earth revolves around this |
| Galileo Galilei | discovered 4 of Jupiters moons and that they orbit that planet. |
| Nicolaus Copernicus | theorized that the sun was the center of the orbits of the planets |
| Johannes Kepler | formulated 3 laws of planetary motion. |
| Sir Isaac Newton | developed and published a description of the force of gravity and how it relates to the planets |
| sunspots | dark areas of magnetic activity on the sun |
| solar eclipse | the moon blocks the sun's light and casts a shadow on Earth's surface. |
| penumbra | partial shadow, showing a partial eclipse |
| umbra | main shadow, showing a annular or total eclipse |
| annular | when a bright ring of sunlight is visable around the moon |
| lunar | when the earth moves between the sun and moon |
| 30 days | approximate amount of time for the moon to complete the lunar cycle |
| Milky Way | enormous spiral galaxy in which Earth travels |
| Earth | created by God with exact conditions to support life |
| Mercury | smallest planet; has craters and rough surface |
| Venus | brightest planet in Earth's night sky; called the "morning star" |
| Mars | "red planet" caused by oxidized iron |
| asteroids | have orbits of their own; between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter |
| Jupiter | largest planet; big red spot believed to be one of many storms |
| Saturn | magnificent shining rings orbit its equator; most beautiful planet |
| Uranus and Neptune | appear bluish green and more blue because of methane |
| sun | attracts planets in its solar system toward itself and keeps them in their orbits by the strength of gravity |
| Earth's moon | surface consists mostly of volcanic rock |
