Astronomy Quiz: Planets and Eclipses

Planet Information

• Planets in order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
• Mars takes 687 Earth days to orbit the Sun
• Jupiter takes 12 Earth years to orbit the Sun
• Saturn takes 29 Earth years to orbit the Sun
• Average surface temperatures of planets vary greatly, ranging from -82°C to 0°C for Mars, -150°C for Jupiter, and -170°C for Saturn
• Planets' distances from the Sun affect their surface temperatures
• Uranus is 2870 million km from the Sun. The surface temperature was estimated

Orbital Periods

• Jupiter takes longer than Mars to orbit the Sun due to
  • Jupiter's greater distance from the Sun
  • Jupiter's orbital path being greater in length

Lunar Eclipse

• A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon
• The Moon passes through the Earth's umbra (shadow).

Meteor, Meteorite, Comet

• Meteor: Small pieces of dust and rock entering the Earth's atmosphere
• Meteorite: A meteor that survives atmospheric entry and lands on Earth
• Comet: A celestial body made of ice and dust, which orbits the sun

Satellites

• An example of a natural satellite is the Moon
• An example of an artificial satellite is the International Space Station (ISS)

Phases of the Moon

• The appearance of the Moon changes as it orbits Earth, exhibiting distinct phases such as new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent.

Day and Night

• Rotation of the Earth on its axis causes day and night.

Seasons

• Earth's tilted axis causes seasonal changes as it orbits the Sun

Solar Eclipse

• A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth. The Moon casts a shadow on Earth.