Page 11 - Spec Tech Vol 1 Issue 04

Space Terms to know about

Retrograde:

Retrograde motion is where a planet or

moon (or other solar system body)

rotates or orbits in a clockwise direction,
as seen from above the Sun’s north

pole.

Zenith:

In celestial coordinate systems, the
location straight above you is called
zenith while the point exactly below

you is referred to as nadir.

Penumbra:

The penumbra is the lighter outer part of

a shadow. The Moon's penumbra
causes partial solar eclipses, and Earth's

penumbra is involved in penumbral lunar

eclipses.

Moonbows:

Moonbows or lunar rainbows are rare
natural atmospheric phenomena that
occur when the Moon’s light is

reflected and refracted off water
droplets in the air.

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