Science: Observable Patterns

constellation

A grouping of stars which have been given names by ancient astronomers because of the way they look.

Why do constellations move across the night sky?

As Earth spins, the stars appear to move across our night sky from east to west, for the same reason that our Sun appears to "rise" in the east and "set" in the west.

What causes day and night on Earth?

Earth's rotation - It takes 24 hours to make one complete rotation.

Why do we see different constellations from month to month?

If observed through the year, the constellations shift gradually to the west. This is caused by Earth's orbit around our Sun. In the summer, viewers are looking in a different direction in space at night than they are during the winter.

Each month different constellations are visible in the sky (Rotation or Revolution)

Revolution

Seasons (Rotation or Revolution)

Revolution

Day and Night (Rotation or Revolution)

Rotation

During the night the stars move across the sky (Rotation or Revolution)

Rotation

Shadows change shape during the day (Rotation or Revolution)

Rotation

What is the absence of light?

Shadow

rotation

The action of rotating around an axis or center

Waxing

The lit part of the moon is getting larger. This occurs between the new moon and full moon.

Waning

The lit part of the moon is getting smaller. This occurs between the full moon and new moon.

What causes the moon to appear to change shape?

The moon revolving around the earth. (Revolution)

revolution

The movement of one object around a center or another object, a forceful overthrow of a government by the people or any sudden or grand change.

What causes the seasons?

The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis away or toward the sun as it travels through its year-long path around the sun. The Earth has a tilt of 23.5 degrees relative to the "ecliptic plane" (the imaginary surface formed by it's almost-cicular path around the sun).

sun

The star that is the central body of the solar system, around which the planets revolve and from which they receive light and heat.

What is the difference between waxing and waning?

When something is waxing, it is getting closer to its maximum property. When something is waning, it is decreasing, or getting closer to its minimum property.

What causes shadows to change shape and size?

Where the Sun is located in the sky. When the Sun is low in the sky the shadow is long and is in the opposite direction. When the sun is high in the sky the shadow is short.

What practical uses are there for constellations

calendar, time, and navigation

What are the phases of the moon?

¤ New Moon ¤ Waxing Crescent ¤ First Quarter ¤ Waxing Gibbous ¤ Full Moon ¤ Waning Gibbous ¤ Last Quarter ¤ Waning Crescent Back to New Moon