Astronomy Chapter 2

  1. constellation
    one of the stellar patterns identified by name, usually of mythological gods, people, animals, or objects. Also, the region of the smy contatining that star pattern
  2. asterism
    a named grouping of stars that is not one of the recognized constellations.

    EX: The Big Dipper and the Pleiades
  3. magnitude scale
    the astonomical brightness scale. The larger the number, the fainter the star.

    *if the star is a negative denomination then it is considered a brighter star
  4. apparent visual magnitude
    the brightness of a star are seen by the human eyes on earth
  5. precession
    the slow change in the direction of earth's axsis of rotation. One cycle takes nearly 26,000 years
  6. celestial sphere
    an imaginary sphere of very large radius surrounding earth and to which the planets; stars, sun, and moon seem to be attached.
  7. Horizon
    the circular boundary between the sky and earth
  8. zenith
    the point on the celestial sphere directly above the observer
  9. nadir
    the point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer
  10. angular diameter
    the angle formed by lines extending from the observer to opposite sides of an object; for example, the angular diameter of the sun, moon, or Andromeda Galaxy
  11. circumpolar constellation
    a constellation so close to one of the celestial poles that it never sets or never rises as seen from a particular latitude
  12. north celestial pole
    the point on the celestrial sphere directly above Earth's north pole
  13. south celestial pole
    the point on the celestrial sphere directy above the Earth's south pole
  14. celestial equator
    the imaginary line around the sky directly above Earth's equator. The line divides the sky into two hemispheres
Author
eboustead
ID
145548
Card Set
Astronomy Chapter 2
Description
key terms and concepts
Updated