Solstices & EquinoxesWhen Will This Day End?

By: Moses McIntosh

Our Planet:

Our Planet is very special

We have a rare and unique area in our solar system

Our placement distance from the sun effects many things that allow for life on earth

Our Planet Continued:

One thing that is also unique about Earth is its axis

Earth’s axis makes it have a specific tilt

This tilt effects the Earth in many ways, and creates many interesting celestial events

Solstices: A Name

One of these celestial events—solstices

The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin “sol”=sun and “sistere”=to stand still

Thus the word “solstice” means “sun that stands still”

Solstice: Causes

One cause of planetary solstice is the Earth’s distance from the sun

Another is the tilt of the axis During a solstice the sun travels to its

apex in the sky, then back down—rather then in one motion

These apexes are both at the sun’s southernmost and northernmost extremes

Solstice: Results

• One of the results for solstices are the apparent “standing still” of the sun for a time

•Another result is, in some cultures, the solstices serve as markers for the season—in other cultures this falls in the middle of the seasons

Solstice: When

The First Is:

› Mid-Late June

The Second Is:

› Mid-Late December

Equinox: A Name

One of these celestial events—equinoxes

The word “equinox” is derived from the Latin “aequus”=equal and “nox”=night

Thus the word “equinox” means “an equal night”

Equinox: Causes

The tilt of the Earth’s axis is just right, that when the sun hits the angle, it appears and is in perfect division

This is because the sun in shining on the axis point right above it

Equinox: Results

The results of equinoxes is that there are equal nights on two sides of the equator

Equinox: When

Mid-Late March Mid-Late September

Summary The tilt of the Earth effects many things

One of the things that it effects is the apparent apex of the sun in the sky—solstices

Another thing that it effects is the apparent “standing still” of the sun during equinoxes

Both these celestial occurrences have reasons for their cause and they both have results

In concert, these ideas help to give us a deeper understanding of the complexity and uniqueness of our world

Summary Quiz

Question #1 Question #2 Question #3 Question #4 Question #5 Question #6 Question #7 Question #8

References

Question #1:

What are two times per year when solstices happen? Answer

Question #1:

What are two times per year when solstices happen?

Mid-Late June

And

Mid-Late December

Source?

Solstice: When

The First Is:

› Mid-Late June

The Second Is:

› Mid-Late December

Quiz Home

Question #2:

What causes equinoxes?

Answer

Question #2:

What causes equinoxes?

Source?

The tilt, and the apparent shadow of the as it seems to be in perfect division

AND

The sun is shining above the axis

Equinox: Causes

The tilt of the Earth’s axis is just right, that when the sun hits the angle, it appears and is in perfect division

This is because the sun in shining on the axis point right above it

Quiz Home

Question #3:

What does the word “solstice” mean?

Answer

Question #3:

What does the word “solstice” mean? Sol=Sun

Sistene=to stand still“sun that stands still”

Source?

Solstices: A Name

One of these celestial events—solstices

The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin “sol”=sun and “sistere”=to stand still

Thus the word “solstice” means “sun that stands still” Quiz Home

Question #4:

What are two times per when equinoxes happen? Answer

Question #4:

What are two times per when equinoxes happen?

Source?

Mid-Late March

And

Mid-Late September

Equinox: When

Mid-Late March Mid-Late September

Quiz Home

Question #5:

What are two results of solstices?

Answer

Question #5:

What are two results of solstices?

Source?

1. Apparent “Standing Still” of sun

2. Cultural Marker of Seasons/Times of Year

Solstice: Results

• One of the results for solstices are the apparent “standing still” of the sun for a time

•Another result is, in some cultures, the solstices serve as markers for the season—in other cultures this falls in the middle of the seasons

Quiz Home

Question #6:

What does the word “equinox” mean?

Answer

Question #6:

What does the word “equinox” mean? S

ource?

“Aequus”=equal“nox”=night

“an equal night”

Equinox: A Name

One of these celestial events—equinoxes

The word “equinox” is derived from the Latin “aequus”=equal and “nox”=night

Thus the word “equinox” means “an equal night”

Quiz Home

Question #7:

What causes solstices?

Answer

Question #7:

What causes solstices?

Source?

1. Distance from sun

2. Tilt of axis3. Travel of apex

in non-circular

4. Southernmost and Northernmost Extremes

Solstice: Causes

One cause of planetary solstice is the Earth’s distance from the sun

Another is the tilt of the axis During a solstice the sun travels to its

apex in the sky, then back down—rather then in one motion

These apexes are both at the sun’s southernmost and northernmost extremes Quiz Home

Question #8:

What is the result of equinoxes?

Answer

Question #8:

What is the result of equinoxes?

Source?

Equal nights on two sides of the equator

Equinox: Results

The results of equinoxes is that there are equal nights on two sides of the equator

Quiz Home

References:

Equinox. Wikipedia.org. Retrieved (2010, March 1) from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EquinoxSolstice. Wikipedia.org. Retrieved (2010, March 1) from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice