Planetary Motion and Moon Phases

Planetary Motion

• Earth rotates on its axis, causing day and night.
• Earth revolves around the Sun, causing the seasons.
• Earth's axis is tilted, causing varying seasons.

Moon Phases

• New Moon: Moon is between Earth and Sun, no visible light.
• Waxing Crescent: A small sliver of light is visible, growing larger.
• First Quarter: Half the moon is illuminated.
• Waxing Gibbous: More than half the moon is illuminated, nearing full.
• Full Moon: Entire surface of the moon is illuminated.
• Waning Gibbous: Light from the full moon begins to shrink.
• Last Quarter: Half the moon is illuminated, opposite the First Quarter.
• Waning Crescent: Only a small sliver of light is visible, decreasing.

Eclipses

• Solar Eclipse: The Moon blocks the Sun's light, casting a shadow on Earth.
• Lunar Eclipse: Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.

The Planets

• Order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune (MVEMJSUN).
• Planets have diverse characteristics: size, composition, atmosphere.
  • Earth is habitable.
  • Mars has the largest volcano.
  • Jupiter is a gas giant.
  • Saturn has rings.

Effects of the Sun on Earth

• The Sun provides energy for all life on Earth.
• Plants use sunlight for photosynthesis.
• The Sun's gravity keeps Earth in orbit.
• UV radiation is harmful but helps produce vitamin D.
• Solar energy is harnessed from the Sun.
• Seasons are caused by the Sun's position relative to Earth's tilt.
• Eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align.

Structure of the Sun

• Core: Center of the Sun, where nuclear fusion occurs.
• Gases: Hot gases rise and cool in the Sun.
• Photosphere: Visible surface layer of the Sun.
• Chromosphere: Reddish layer above the photosphere.
• Flares and Prominences: Explosive events on the Sun.
• Corona: Outer atmosphere of the Sun.

Other Objects in the Universe

• Moons: Natural satellites of planets.
• Artificial Satellites: Man-made objects orbiting planets or celestial bodies.
• Meteoroids: Small rocks in space.
• Meteors: Meteoroids burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
• Meteorites: Meteors that land on Earth.

The Big Bang

• The universe originated from a tiny, hot, dense point and expanded over time (approximately 15 billion years ago).

The James Webb Telescope

• A powerful space telescope providing detailed images of distant parts of the universe.

Terminology

• Astronomical Unit (AU): Distance from Earth to the Sun (approximately 93 million miles).
• Asteroid: Rocky body, primarily found in the asteroid belt.
• Asteroid Belt: Region between Mars and Jupiter containing numerous asteroids.
• Astronomy: Study of stars, planets, and space.
• Aurora Borealis: Northern Lights.
• Axis: Imaginary line Earth rotates on.
• Galaxy: Large collection of stars, planets, and other objects.
• Big Bang: Universe's origin from a single point.
• Chromosphere: Sun's layer above the photosphere.
• Comet: Icy body with a tail, originating from outer solar system.
• Constellation: Group of stars forming a recognizable pattern.
• Core: Sun's central, hottest region.
• Corona: Outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere.
• Cosmology: Study of the universe's origins and structure.
• Crater: Hole formed by a meteoroid impact.
• Crescent: Moon phase showing a less-than-half illuminated portion.
• Eclipse: Occurs when one celestial body blocks another.
• Fusion: Process transforming hydrogen into helium in stars.
• Galileo Galilei: Scientist known for improving the telescope.
• Geocentric: Earth-centered model of the universe.
• Gibbous: Moon phase showing more than half illumination.
• Gravity: Force of attraction between objects.
• Heliocentric: Sun-centered model of the universe.
• International Space Station (ISS): Space station orbiting Earth.
• James Webb Telescope: Advanced space telescope for distant observations.
• Jovian Planets: Gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
• Light Year: Distance light travels in one year.
• Luminous: Emitting light.
• Meteor: Meteoroid burning in Earth's atmosphere.
• Meteorite: Meteoroid that reaches Earth's surface.
• Meteoroid: Small rock or particle in space.
• Milky Way: Our galaxy.
• Moon: Natural satellite orbiting a planet.
• Orbit: Path of a celestial body around another.
• Photosphere: Visible surface of the Sun.
• Planet: Celestial body orbiting a star.
• Polaris: North Star.
• Revolution: Earth's orbit around the Sun.
• Rotation: Earth spinning on its axis.
• Satellite: Object orbiting a planet or star.
• Solar Flare: Sudden burst of energy from the Sun.
• Solar Prominence: Large loops of gas on the Sun.
• Solar System: Sun and the objects that orbit it.
• Solar Winds: Charged particles released from the Sun.
• Star: Luminous celestial object.
• Sunspot: Dark spots on the Sun's surface.
• Universe: All that exists, encompassing all matter and energy.
• Waning: Decreasing illumination (e.g., in moon phases).
• Waxing: Increasing illumination (e.g., in moon phases).

Space Review Questions: Rotation vs Revolution

• Rotation: Earth spinning on its axis (causes day/night).
• Revolution: Earth orbiting the Sun (causes seasons).

Space Review Questions: Star Movement

• Stars appear to move from east to west.
• Polaris (North Star) remains relatively stationary.

Space Review Questions: Moon Phases

• New Moon: Moon between the Sun and Earth.
• Full Moon: Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.

Space Review Questions: Eclipses

• Solar Eclipse: Moon blocking the Sun.
• Lunar Eclipse: Earth blocking the Sun from the Moon.

Space Review Questions: Planet Characteristics

• Mercury: Closest, small, rocky planet.
• Venus: Dense atmosphere, hottest planet.
• Earth: Life-supporting planet, water, atmosphere.
• Mars: Red planet, potential for past life.
• Jupiter: Largest planet, gas giant.
• Saturn: Rings made of ice and rock.
• Uranus: Tilted axis.
• Neptune: Windiest planet.

Space Review Questions: Sun's Influence

• Advantages: Provides light, warmth, energy.
• Disadvantages: UV radiation, extreme solar flares can disrupt communication.

Space Review Questions: Sun's Cross-Section

• Core: Nuclear fusion (hydrogen to helium).
• Moving Gases: Circulation of hot gases.
• Photosphere: Visible surface.
• Chromosphere: Reddish layer above photosphere.
• Flares & Prominences: Energy bursts from Sun's surface.
• Corona: Outer atmosphere, very hot.

Space Review Questions: Comets vs. Asteroids

• Comets: Icy bodies with tails.
• Asteroids: Rocky objects.
• Asteroid Belt: Region between Mars and Jupiter.

Space Review Questions: Meteors, Meteoroids, Meteorites

• Meteoroid: Small object in space.
• Meteor: Meteoroid burning in the atmosphere.
• Meteorite: Meteoroid that strikes Earth's surface.
• Craters are formed by meteorites.

Space Review Questions: Big Bang

• The universe began as a small, dense point. Expanded over billions of years.
• Evidence: Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation and redshift of galaxies.