Stars and Beyond Crossword Puzzle

QUESTIONS LIST:

• universe : everything that exists, including all space, matter, and energy
• galaxy : a massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity
• milky way : the galaxy that contains our solar system
• star : a glowing sphere of hot plasma held together by gravity
• solar system : a star and all objects that orbit it
• spiral galaxy : a disk-shaped galaxy with winding arms
• elliptical galaxy : a smooth, oval-shaped galaxy with mostly older stars
• irregular galaxy : a galaxy with no defined shape
• light-year : the distance light travels in one year
• astronomical unit : the average distance between earth and the sun
• apparent magnitude : how bright a star appears from earth
• absolute magnitude : how bright a star truly is at a standard distance
• temperature : a property of a star that affects its color
• differential rotation : when the sun’s equator rotates faster than its poles
• core : the center of the sun where nuclear fusion occurs
• nuclear fusion : the process of combining hydrogen to form helium and release energy
• radioactive zone : the layer where energy moves outward by radiation
• convection zone : the layer where energy is transferred by rising and sinking plasma
• photosphere : the visible surface of the sun
• chromosphere : a reddish layer above the photosphere
• corona : the sun’s outermost layer visible during a total eclipse
• sunspot : a cooler, darker area on the sun caused by magnetic activity
• solar flare : a sudden burst of energy released from the sun
• prominence : a large loop of glowing gas extending from the sun