Motions of Earth Motions of Earth and the Moonand the Moon

The MoonThe Moon Journal-Journal-

–Why doesn’t the Why doesn’t the moon always moon always look the same?look the same?

1. Fact: When we see the moon, we are looking at the part of the moon that is reflecting light from the sun.2.  Fact:  It takes the moon an average of 29.5 days to orbit the Earth.3. Fact: If the moon is SMALLER than a QUARTER, we call it CRESCENT. 4.  Fact: If the moon is BIGGER than a QUARTER, we call it GIBBOUS. 5.  Fact: When the moon is GETTING BIGGER, it is WAXING. [ The part of the moon that we see will appear to be the RIGHT side of the moon.]6.  Fact: When the moon is GETTING SMALLER, it is WANING.  [The part of the moon that we see will appear to be the LEFT side of the moon.]7. Fact: If the CRESCENT of the moon LOOKS LIKE THE LETTER C, the  moon is SHRINKING (WANING).8.  Fact:  If the CRESCENT of the moon CURVES LIKE THE LETTER D, the  moon is getting bigger (Waxing). 9.  Fact:  The New Moon can hardly be seen. 10.  Fact:  The Full Moon is as big as the moon can get.

Interesting Moon Facts

How Earth How Earth MovesMovesIt takes Earth exactly It takes Earth exactly

one year to make one year to make one complete trip one complete trip around the Sun!around the Sun!

At the start of a new At the start of a new year, Earth is in year, Earth is in the same position the same position in relation to the in relation to the Sun as it was at Sun as it was at the start of the the start of the year before.year before.

While orbiting the Sun, Earth also While orbiting the Sun, Earth also turns on an imaginary line called an turns on an imaginary line called an axisaxis. With each . With each rotationrotation, or turn, on , or turn, on Earth’s axis, there is one period of Earth’s axis, there is one period of daylight and one period of night. daylight and one period of night.

Earth’s axis is tilted at a 23.5Earth’s axis is tilted at a 23.566° ° angle from its orbit. The tilt of the angle from its orbit. The tilt of the Earth on its axis and its orbit around Earth on its axis and its orbit around the Sun causes Earth’s seasons.the Sun causes Earth’s seasons.

Each Each revolutionrevolution, or trip , or trip around the sun is a year.around the sun is a year.

As Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of it As Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of it are tilted toward the Sun. When the northern are tilted toward the Sun. When the northern half of Earth tilts toward the Sun, it is summer half of Earth tilts toward the Sun, it is summer there. there. – The Sun hits that part of Earth more The Sun hits that part of Earth more

directly and causes the temperatures to directly and causes the temperatures to rise and the period of daylight to become rise and the period of daylight to become longer. longer.

QuestionQuestionWhat do you think happens What do you think happens

when the northern half of Earth when the northern half of Earth tilts away from the Sun?tilts away from the Sun?

Lunar Eclipse--(Hyperlink)(Hyperlink) Occurs at night when the Moon passes into Occurs at night when the Moon passes into

Earth’s shadow. These are okay to look at. Earth’s shadow. These are okay to look at. They occur 2 to 4 times a yearThey occur 2 to 4 times a year

Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse Occurs during the day when the Occurs during the day when the

Moon passes between the Sun Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. They are VERY and the Earth. They are VERY dangerous to look at!dangerous to look at!– Total- Moon blocks out the Sun Total- Moon blocks out the Sun

entirelyentirely– Partial- Moon blocks out a portion of Partial- Moon blocks out a portion of

the Sunthe Sun– Annular- The Moon is at its furthest Annular- The Moon is at its furthest

point in orbit, therefore it will not point in orbit, therefore it will not block the Sun entirely. You can see block the Sun entirely. You can see a thin ring of light around the Moon. a thin ring of light around the Moon.