Astronomy

Unit 1: The Earth, Moon and Sun Systems

Learning Objectives
Learn about the interactions between
the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Describe how the motion of the Earth

causes seasons and night-day cycles.

Identify the characteristics and phases

of the moon.
Explore how the moon's gravitational

pull manipulates tides on Earth.

Distinguish between a lunar eclipse

and a solar eclipse.

History of Astronomy
The study of the universe
Planets, stars, moons, comets, meteors
First used in 600 BC!
By the Greeks
Astron = star arrangement
Nomos = regulation
Models of our Solar
System
Geocentric model
Models of the Solar
System
Heliocentric model Still used and
accepted today!
Gravity and Motion
Satellite = an object that orbits around
another
Caused by gravity!
Gravity = universal force of attraction
between objects with mass
Mass and distance influence it
Why do we not fall out into
space?
Earth rotates at about 1,000 mph at the
Equator
Hmmmm
Night and Day
The Earth rotates on its axis
Axis = imaginary vertical line that shifts Earth at
a 23.5 degree tilt.
Rotates on axis once every 23 hrs. and 56
min.
The Poles
The tilt of the Earth causes the poles to not
experience the day and night cycle
continuously
Summer: North Pole faces sun; South Pole

faces away from sun

The Seasons
Ellipse = the orbit the Earth follows around
the Sun (elongated, closed-curved path)
Revolution = Earth revolves around sun

once every 365 days, 6 hours, and 9

minutes
Perigee = Earth is closest to the Sun

In January
Apogee = Erath is farthest from the Sun
In July
The Seasons
Results from the 23.5 degree tilt of the
Earth AND its revolution around the sun
Suns radiation strikes at different angles

due to tilt
Solstices and Equinoxes
Solstice = Sun is positioned at the greatest
distance north or south from the equator
Equinoxes = Sun is directly above the

Earths equator
Both hemispheres receive same amount of light =
similar season
The Moon!
Elliptical orbit around Earth
Perigee = closest to Earth
Apogee = farthest from Earth
We only see one side of the moon, EVER!

Moon rotates at the same speed it revolves at =

29.5 days (counterclockwise for both)
Maria = dark grey plains
Why do you think the moon has
so many craters??
Hmmm..
Where did the moon come
from?
Read about the theories in Buzz
Moon Facts
27% the size of Earth
1.7% the mass of Earth
1/6 of Earths gravity

If you weighed 100 pounds on Earth, how

much would you weigh on the moon?
Lunar Phases
Moon orbits from west to east
Changes position among the background of the
suns light
We see different parts of the moon illuminated in
different lunar phases
Lunar month = 29.5 days
Waxing = moon phases appear to get

larger
Waning = moon phases appear to get

smaller
Gibbous = rounded on both sides
Tides
Tide = rise and fall in sea level
Occurs twice a day
About every six hours it changes

The moons gravity

Decreases with distance
Water closer to the moon experience a greater
pull by the moon
Eclipses
Lunar eclipse = Earth is positioned
directly between the Sun and the Moon
Earth casts a shadow on the Moon
3 types to look at in Buzz

Solar eclipse = the Moon is positioned

directly between the Earth and the Sun
Earth passes into the shadow of the moon
3 types to look at in Buzz