Chapter 6 Notes The Sun-Earth-Moon System

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Chapter 6 NotesThe Sun-Earth-Moon System
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Section 1Earths Motion

• Astronomy- the study of the moon, stars, and
  other objects in space.
• Axis- the imaginary line that passes through
  Earths center and the North and South poles.
• The tilt of the earths axis is 23.5 degrees
• The Earths axis always points in the same
  direction.

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• Rotation- the spinning of the earth on its axis.
• The earth rotates on its axis one time in a 24
  hour span (DAY)
• The earths rotation on its axis causes night and
  day.
• (see rotation pictures)

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• Revolution- the movement of an object around
  another object (YEAR)
• It takes the earth 365.25 days to make one
  revolution around the sun.

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• Orbit- the earths path as it travels around the
  sun.
• Earth has seasons because its axis is tilted as
  it moves around the sun
• When the northern hemisphere points towards the
  sun, we will experience summer.
• When the southern hemisphere points towards the
  sun, we will experience winter.

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• Solstice- Either the northern or southern
  hemisphere is pointing towards the sun
• Equinox- Neither end of the Earths axis is
  tilted towards the sun (equal day and night)

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Section 2Phases, Eclipses, and Tides

• The moon makes one rotation in 27.3 days (DAY)
• The moon makes one revolution in 27.3 days
  (YEAR)
• The moons day and year are the same.
  Because of this, we see the same side of the moon
  all the time.

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• The phases of the moon depend on how much of the
  lighted side of the moon can be seen from Earth.
• When the moons shadow hits Earth or Earths
  shadow hits the moon, an eclipse occurs.

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• Lunar Eclipse- SUN-EARTH-MOON
• Only occur during full moon
• Solar Eclipse- SUN-MOON-EARTH
• Only occur during new moon.

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• Tides- The force of gravity between the earth and
  moon and between the sun and moon affecting our
  oceans and causing high and low tides.
• Spring Tide- sun and moon are in line
• Neap Tide- Sun and moon are at a right angle to
  the earth (see pictures)

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• Phases of the Moon
• 1. New Moon
• 2. Waxing Crescent
• 3. First Quarter
• 4. Waxing Gibbous
• 5. Full Moon
• 6. Waning Gibbous
• 7. Third Quarter
• 8. Waning Crescent