Astronomy Exam #1

Astronomy Flash Cards Exam #1

51 cards   |   Total Attempts: 182
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
Geocentric
Theory the earth is the center of the Universe
Heliocentric
Theory the sun is the center of the Universe
Orbit
Motion of one object around another in space
Ecliptic
Path followed by the sun across the celestial sphere in one year
Retrograde
Movement of planets going backwards with respect to the stars
Ellipse
Curve with the property that the sum of the distance from any point on the curve to two given points is constant
Epicycle
Ptolemaic Theory, small circle riding on a larger circle on which a planet moves
Aphelion
The farthest part on an orbit from the sun
Perihelion
Nearest point to sun on an orbit
Precession
Slowly changing positions of stars in the sky resulting from variations in the on onentation of earth's access
Ptolemy
Knwon for epicycles, deferents and accentc
Copernicus
Sun at center, able to measure planets distance from earth
Tycho Brah
Observatory in denmark
Kepler
Used studies from Brah. Invented keplers three laws
Galileo
Telescope, maria, and sun spots