4th Grade-Chapter 17 Vocabulary

axis

An imaginary line that passes through the North Pole, the center, and the South Pole of the Earth

rotation

the spinning of Earth around its axis-causes day & night

revolution

The movement of one object around another, such as Earth revolving around the Sun

orbit

The path an object travels, such as Earth's path as it revolves around the Sun

ellipse

an oval-shaped curve that is like a circle stretched out in opposite directions

lunar eclipse

when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, and the Moon passes through Earth's shadow

solar eclipse

When the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and casts its shadow on Earth

constellation

any one of 88 areas in the sky that are used to identify and name the stars

eclipse

when one object in space gets between the Sun and another object and casts its shadow on another object