Space Cycles

Moon Phases

Seasons

Define these words:

• Axis

• Rotation

• Revolution

• Orbit

• Solstice

• Equinox

• Moon phase

• Solar eclipse

• Lunar eclipse

• Waxing

• Waning

Define these words:

• AxisAxis - imaginary line around which Earth spins, causing day and night, and that is drawn from the north geographic pole through Earth to the south geographic pole. (Chap. 2, Sec. 1, p. 40)

Define these words:

• RotationRotation - spinning of Earth on its axis, which causes day and night; it takes 24 hours for Earth to complete one rotation. (Chap. 2, Sec. 1, p. 40)

Define these words

• RevolutionRevolution - the motion of Earth around the Sun, which takes about 365 1/4 days, or one year, to complete. (Chap. 2, Sec. 1, p. 41)

Define these words

• OrbitOrbit - curved path followed by Earth as it moves around the Sun. (Chap. 2, Sec. 1, p. 41)

Define these words

• SolsticeSolstice - time when the Sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator, which occurs June 21 or 22 for the northern hemisphere (longest day of the year) and December 21 or 22 for the southern hemisphere (shortest day of the year). (Chap. 2, Sec. 1, p. 42)

Define these words

• EquinoxEquinox - twice-yearly time when the Sun is directly above Earth's equator and the length of day equals the length of night worldwide. (Chap. 2, Sec. 1, p. 43)

Define these words

• Moon phaseMoon phase - changing views of the Moon as seen from Earth, which are caused by the Moon's revolution around Earth. (Chap. 2, Sec. 2, p. 47)

Define these words

• Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse - occurs during a new moon, when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth are lined up in a specific way and Earth moves into the Moon's shadow. (Chap. 2, Sec. 2, p. 49)

Define these words:

• Lunar eclipseLunar eclipse - occurs during a full moon, when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up in a specific way and the Moon moves into Earth's shadow. (Chap. 2, Sec. 2, p. 50)

Define these words:

• Waxing – when the amount of the lighted Waxing – when the amount of the lighted side that can be seen begins to decrease.side that can be seen begins to decrease. Growing in size Growing in size (Chap. 2, Sec. 2, p. 48)(Chap. 2, Sec. 2, p. 48)

Define these words:

• WaningWaning – when the amount of the lighted side that can be seen begins to decrease. Decreasing in size. (Chap. 2, Sec. 2, p. (Chap. 2, Sec. 2, p. 48)48)

Illustrate the 8 major phases of the moon

Illustrate the 8 major phases of the moon

earth

moon orbit`searth

last (third)quarter

gibbous moon

full moon

gibbous moon

first quarter

crescent

new moon

crescent

waning Moon

waxing Moon

SUN

What is a crescent moon?

What is a crescent moon?

Less than half of the lighted side of the moon is visible.

Waxing Crescent Waning Crescent

What is a gibbous moon?

What is a gibbous moon?

Waxing Gibbous Waning Gibbous

More than half of the lighted side of the moon is visible.

What is a quarter moon?

What is a quarter moon??

1st Quarter (waxing) 3rd Quarter (waning)

One half of the lighted side of the moon is visible.

Why can't you see a new moon?

Why can't you see a new moon?

The lighted half of the Moon is facing the Sun, not Earth

Explain how a lunar eclipse occurs.

Explain how a lunar eclipse occurs.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align as the Moon moves into

Earth's shadow.

Explain how a solar eclipse occurs.

Explain how a solar eclipse occurs.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align as Earth moves into the

Moon's shadow.

Why does a solar eclipse last for only a few minutes in any one

location?

Why does a solar eclipse last for only a few minutes in any one

location?

Because Earth rotates, it will take only a few minutes to move out of the Moon's

shadow.

Try a Moon Phase Activity:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/

Review Moon Phases Here:

http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/core/6th/SCIBER6/MOON/HTML/INTRO.HTM

Take the Moon Challenge:

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/moon/moon_challenge/moon_challenge.html

What is the shape of the Earth’s orbit?

What is the shape of the Earth’s orbit?

The Earth travels around the Sun in an almost perfect circle. It is only slightly oval.

Why is the shape of the Earth’s orbit Important?

Why is the shape of the Earth’s orbit Important?

The shape of the orbit doesn't change how far away we are from the Sun by much .

How is the Earth’s axis tilted?

How is the Earth’s axis tilted?

The earth's axis is tilted about 23.45 degrees, so the Earth is never straight up

and down compared to the Sun.

Read more about the Earth’s tilt:

http://inkido.indiana.edu/a100/celestialsphere4.html

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

Part of the year, the Earth's Northern Hemisphere is tilted mostly toward the

Sun, six months later, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted mostly away from the

Sun.

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

The same is true for the Southern Hemisphere, at opposite times of year –Part of the year, the Earth's Southern Hemisphere is tilted mostly toward the

Sun, six months later, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted mostly away from the

Sun.

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

During the months of Northern Hemisphere summer, (June, July, August) the North Pole will get sunlight twenty-four hours a

day. The Sun can be seen through most of the autumn, passing below the horizon at the

autumnal equinox.

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

As winter arrives at the North Pole, the Sun will not be visible for about six months, because that part of the Earth is tilted

away from the Sun

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

The same thing happens at the South Pole at opposite times of the year.

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

As one gets closer to the Equator, this change in daylight hours is not as

noticeable.

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

Closer to the equator, days will get longer during the summer and shorter during the winter; the nearer to the equator, however,

the less difference there will be.

What is the effect of theEarth’s tilt on the length of a day?

At the equator, there is almost no

difference between the length of day all through the year.

What does the length of day

have to do with seasons?

What does the length of day

have to do with seasons?

The length of time sunlight (ENERGY) falls on a particular location has a great deal to

do with the seasonal changes in temperature.

How does the tilt affect temperature?

How does the tilt affect temperature?

Changes from season to season are caused by the average daytime temperature.

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/980211f.html

How does the tilt affect temperature?

Temperature depends on the amount of heating that the earth receives from the sun in a single day throughout the year,

and this depends on how many hours the sun is out.

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/980211f.html

How does the tilt affect temperature?

In the Northern Hemisphere summer, the northern part of the Earth is tilted towards the sun, allowing more of the sun’s energy

to heat the Northern Hemisphere.

The Northern Hemisphere get more hours of sunlight a day in the summer.

How does the tilt affect temperature?

On the other hand, during the Northern Hemisphere winter, the Northern

Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, which lowers the amount of the sun’s

energy warming the Northern Hemisphere.

How does the tilt affect temperature?

During the Summer, the Northern Hemisphere receives the sun's rays

coming straight through the atmosphere. During Winter, the pole is pointed away from the Sun, so the light comes in at an

angle.

Read another explanation:

http://weathersavvy.com/Seasons2.html

Study the seasons here

http://www.diduknow.info/sun/san2.html

Explain why the tilt of the Earth causes seasons.

Explain why the tilt of the Earth causes seasons.

Around June 21st, the summer solstice, the Earth is tilted so that the Sun is

positioned directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5 degrees north latitude.  This puts the northern hemisphere in a more direct path of the Sun's energy because it “tilts" away from the Sun.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/astro/season.htm

Explain why the tilt of the Earth causes seasons.

What this means is less sunlight gets spread out before reaching the ground because it

has less distance to travel through the atmosphere. 

In addition, the high sun angle produces long days. 

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/astro/season.htm

Explain why the tilt of the Earth causes seasons.

  The opposite is true in the southern hemisphere, where the low sun angle

produces short days. 

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/astro/season.htm

Explain why the tilt of the Earth causes seasons.

    Also, a large amount of the Sun's energy is spread out before reaching the ground because the energy has to travel through

more of the atmosphere. 

So around June 21st, the southern hemisphere is having its winter solstice

because it “tilts" away from the Sun.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/astro/season.htm

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/astro/season.htm

http://education.arm.gov/lessons/images/seasons.gif

When do the Sun's rays directly hit the

Tropic of Cancer?

When do the Sun's rays directly hit the Tropic of Cancer?

They directly hit the Tropic of Cancer during the summer solstice in the northern

hemisphere (June 21 or 22).

Review Seasons Here:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Seasons.shtml

More information on seasons:

http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/core/6th/SCIBER6/SEASONS/HTML/INTRO.HTM