Across
- 2. The phase of the Moon when its visible surface area increases, leading up to a full moon.
- 3. The phase of the Moon when its visible surface area decreases, following a full moon.
- 4. Earth's "sister planet," enveloped in a thick, toxic atmosphere primarily composed of carbon dioxide, with surface temperatures capable of melting lead.
- 9. Small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
- 10. Famous for its stunning ring system, Saturn is the second-largest planet composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.
- 13. The path followed by an object as it revolves around another object in space due to gravitational attraction.
- 16. Giant: An extremely massive and luminous star in late stages of stellar evolution, often many times larger than the Sun and nearing the end of its life cycle
- 17. A celestial event in which one astronomical body is obscured by another.
- 19. A large, celestial body that orbits a star, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other debris.
- 21. The only known planet to support life, boasting a diverse range of ecosystems and abundant liquid water.
- 22. The "Red Planet" with polar ice caps, a thin atmosphere, and surface features suggesting a history of liquid water.
- 24. A eclipse occurring when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon, resulting in a partial or total darkening of the lunar surface.
Down
- 1. A stable phase in the life cycle of a star where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core, characterized by a balance between inward gravitational pressure and outward thermal pressure.
- 5. An ice giant with a tilted axis causing extreme seasonal variations and a system of rings and moons.
- 6. A large and relatively cool star that has expanded and evolved off the main sequence, typically with a swollen outer atmosphere.
- 7. A natural satellite that orbits a planet.
- 8. The periodic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun acting on Earth's oceans.
- 11. The farthest known planet from the Sun, an ice giant with a dynamic atmosphere and bluish hue, accompanied by rings and moons.
- 12. Dwarf: A dense, compact stellar remnant formed from the core collapse of a low to medium mass star, composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter.
- 14. The largest planet in the solar system, a gas giant with a dynamic atmosphere, prominent cloud bands, and a Great Red Spot storm.
- 15. The closest planet to the Sun, characterized by extreme temperature variations and a heavily cratered surface.
- 18. A eclipse where the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, obscuring the Sun either partially or completely from view.
- 20. The different appearances of the Moon as viewed from Earth throughout its orbit, including new moon, crescent, quarter, gibbous, and full moo
- 23. The star at the center of our solar system, around which all other celestial bodies orbit.