Astronomy Crossword

A process by where the atmosphere melts away and removes the surface material of an incoming meteorite.
The process by where dust and gas accumulated into larger bodies such as stars and planets.
A stone meteorite that contains no chondrules.
The reflective property of a non-luminous object. A perfect mirror would have an albedo of 100% while a black hole would have an albedo of 0%.
The angular distance of an object above the horizon.
Matter consisting of particles with charges opposite that of ordinary matter. In antimatter, protons have a negative charge while electrons have a positive charge.
The point of greatest separation of two stars, such as in a binary star system.
The size of the opening through which light passes in an optical instrument such as a camera or telescope. A higher number represents a smaller opening while a lower number represents a larger opening.
The point in the orbit of a planet or other celestial body where it is farthest from the Sun.
The point in the orbit of the Moon or other satellite where it is farthest from the Earth.
A small planetary body in orbit around the Sun, larger than a meteoroid but smaller than a planet. Most asteroids can be found in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The orbits of some asteroids take them close to the Sun, which also takes them across the paths of the planets.
The branch of science that explores the chemical interactions between dust and gas interspersed between the stars.
A layer of gases surrounding a planet, moon, or star. The Earth's atmosphere is 120 miles thick and is composed mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and a few other trace gases.
A glow in a planet's ionosphere caused by the interaction between the planet's magnetic field and charged particles from the Sun. This phenomenon is known as the Aurora Borealis in the Earth's northern hemisphere and the Aurora Australis in the Earth's Southern Hemisphere.
Also known as the poles, this is an imaginary line through the center of rotation of an object