Basic Astronomy Terms
Enter the number from the column to the left into the text box next to the appropriate word in the right-hand column.
1. the distance light travels in one year (about 5.88 trillion miles; or 9.45 trillion kilometers) celestial body
2. the average distance from the earth to the sun (about 93 million miles; or 149.6 million kilometers) gravity
3. a natural object surrounded by the vacuum of space space
4. an explosion that scientists believe occurred at the beginning of our universe; it is thought that after this explosion the first celestial bodies formed solar system
5. unit of distance equal to 3.26 light years light year
6. the tendency of a body at rest to stay at rest, and of a body in motion to stay in motion, unless acted upon by another force parsec
7. an object (natural or manmade) that is held by gravity and inertia in a circular or elliptical path around a larger object satellite
8. the force of attraction between all objects orbit
9. the path a satellite travels around a larger object universe
10. a star and all of its satellites astronomical unit
11. the relatively empty area between and around stars, planets, and other celestial bodies The Big Bang
12. the area containing all matter, energy, and space inertia



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