unit 8 Earth in Space vocabulary

Lunar Eclipse

Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon

Solar Eclipse

Occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and casts a shadow over part of Earth

Latitude

a measurement of distance from the equator, expresses in degrees north or south

Satellite

a natural or artificial body that revolves around a planet

First people to study astronomy

ancient egypitians

Seasons

effect how all things grow and change every year

Axis

line passing through Earth's center and poles

Vernal Equinox

occurs in March and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere

Autumnal Equinox

occurs in September and marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hrmisphere

Month

roughly the amount of time required for the moon to orbit once around the Earth

Phase

the change in the sunlit area of one celestial body as seen from another celestial body

Revolution

the motion of a body that travels around another body in space; one complete trip a long an orbit

Orbit

the path that a moon body follows as it travels around another body in space

Rotation

the spin of a body on it's axis

Astronomy

the study of the universe

Solstice

the sun is directly overhead at 23.5 degrees north or south

Equinox

the sun is directly overhead at the equator

Day

the time required for the Earth to rotate once on it's axis

What two factors cause the cycle of the seasons

tilt and rotation

What cause day and night

tilt on Earth's axis

Year

time required for the Earth to orbit once around the sun

Eclipse

when the shadow of one moon body falls onto another one