Across
- 3. In ancient Egyptian astronomy, groups of stars that rise at set times during the night, used to tell time and mark seasons.
- 5. A chart or table listing the times and heights of high and low tides for a location on specific dates.
- 6. A small circle that a planet was thought to follow while also moving along a larger circle (deferent) around Earth—used in geocentric models to explain retrograde motion.
- 7. Using patterns, models, or data to forecast what will happen (e.g., predicting the date of an eclipse or a high tide).
- 9. A model of the universe with Earth at the center and the Sun, Moon, and planets moving around it. (Used by many ancient civilizations.)
- 14. The practice of finding and following a route, often using sky cues (Sun, stars, Moon), maps, and instruments to travel safely and accurately.
- 16. A systematic record log of what is seen (date, time, conditions, measurements). Crucial for tracking patterns over time.
Down
- 1. A type of astronomy using regular sky patterns (like seasons, phases, risings of stars/planets) to build calendars and plan agriculture, festivals, and events.
- 2. A model of the solar system with the Sun at the center and the planets (including Earth) orbiting it. (Our modern model.)
- 4. When one celestial body moves into the shadow of another.
- 8. An eclipse where the moon blocks the Sun (new moon).
- 10. A stretched-out circle (oval). Planet orbits are ellipses with the Sun at one focus (Kepler’s First Law).
- 11. The force of attraction between masses. It keeps planets in orbit, makes objects fall, and shapes galaxies.
- 12. An eclipse where the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon (full moon).
- 13. The apparent shift in an object’s position when viewed from two different places. Astronomers use stellar parallax to measure distances to nearby stars.
- 15. A cycle where the time it takes for a celestial object (like the Moon or Venus) to return to the same position relative to the Sun as seen from Earth (e.g., full moon to full moon is ~29.5 days).