Sun, Earth, Moon System OVERVIEW

During which phase of the Moon does a solar eclipse occur?

A solar eclipse occurs during a New Moon.

Umbra

Darkest part of shadow- during Total Eclipse

Penumbra

Lighter shadow caused by an object blocking the Sun's light

Solar Prominence

Plasma loop flowing between sunspots.

Why does the Sun appear to move across the sky each day?

The Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours, or 1 day. As it does, the Sun appears to move across the sky. Actually, it is Earth rotation that makes the Sun appear to move across the sky.

Earth's Movement

The Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours, or 1 day. The Earth revolves around the Sun every 365 ¼ days, or 1 year. Since a calendar year is 365 days long, we add an extra day every 4 years to account for the extra ¼ day

Moon illumination

The Moon gets its light from the Sun. Looking at the Moon from space, half of the Moon is always illuminated by the Sun, unless there is a lunar eclipse. (The illuminated part of the Moon that we can see from Earth changes throughout the Moon's orbit, causing lunar phases.)

Moon's orbit and eclipses

The Moon's orbit is tilted. This means that when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, the Moon is normally lower than the Earth's alignment with the Sun. When the Moon passes behind the Earth, it is normally higher than the Earth's alignment with the Sun

3. Moon's movement

The Moon's period of rotation on its axis is 27.3 days. The Moon's revolution around Earth also takes 27.3 days. Because the Moon's rotation and revolution periods are equal, only one side of the Moon ever faces Earth, the "near side".

What is the source of energy for the Earth?

The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth.

Why do solar eclipses occur?

When the Moon aligns between the Sun and Earth and its shadow falls on Earth, the Sun's light is eclipsed causing a solar eclipse.

Why do lunar eclipses occur?

When the Moon passes behind the Earth into its shadow, the Moon's light is eclipsed causing a lunar eclipse.

Revolution

a planet's or moon's orbit around another solar system body.

rotation

a planet's or moon's spin on its axis,the earth spins counter clockwise

Neap tide

a tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when there is the least difference between high and low water.

Tilt of Axis

The 23.5 degrees tilt of earth always points north

How many degrees is Earth's axis tilted?

23 ½ degrees

Auroras

Auroras are light displays that occur mostly near the poles when gases in Earth's atmosphere glow when hit by charged particles carried by solar winds.

Moon Phases

Occur because the Sun is illuminating the sun..the moon also moves, So does the Earth. Depending on where you are standing you will see a different view. HALF OF THE MOON IS ALWAYS ILLUMINATED.

Spring Tide

The tide with the greatest difference between consecutive low and high tides- Full and New Moon

ORBIT

The path of an object as it revolves around another object in space

Sunspots

dark cooler ares on the sun: Sunspots are part of the Sun's surface and move across the Sun's surface from west to east, which shows that the Sun rotates on its axis counterclockwise. Sunspot groups can be tracked over days. Th number of sunspots changes from day to day and from year to year. Sunspot maximums and minimums occur on 11-year cycles (22 years between maximums).

Tides

the regular rise and fall of the ocean's surface influenced by the moon's gravity pulling on earth

illuminate

to light up

During which phase of the Moon does a lunar eclipse occur?

A lunar eclipse occurs during a Full Moon.

Solar Flare

A sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun's surface

Why do shadow lengths change during the day?

As Earth rotates on its axis, the Sun appears to move across the sky. Shadow lengths depend on the position of the Sun in the sky. When the Sun's position in the sky is high (solar noon), shadows are short. When the Sun's position is lower (early morning/late afternoon), shadows are longer.

Why do we experience night and day?

Half of Earth is always illuminated by the Sun. The other half of Earth is in its own shadow, and is dark. As an area on Earth h rotates into the Sun's light, that area has daylight. As an area on the Earth rotates away from the Sun's light, that area has night

What causes seasons?

Seasons occur because of the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun. As Earth revolves around the Sun, different parts of Earth get more or less direct sunlight. (Summer-more, Winter-less)

Explain why shadow lengths change throughout the year.

Shadow lengths change throughout the year as Earth orbits the Sun and Earth's position on its tilted axis changes. When an area on Earth is tilted toward the Sun (summer), the Sun is high in the sky and solar noon shadows are the shortest. When an area on Earth is tilted away from the Sun (winter), the position of the Sun is lower and shadows are longer.

Why can the Moon appear as large as the Sun even though we know the Moon is much smaller than the Sun?

The Sun is 400 times farther away from the Earth than the Moon, and the Sun is also 400 times larger in diameter than the Moon. This causes the two bodies to appear to be the same size.