The Sun's Role
What does the Sun orbit around?
The Sun does not orbit around the Earth; instead, it orbits the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
What shape is Earth's orbit around the Sun?
Earth's orbit around the Sun is an ellipse, which is like a stretched circle.
Does the Moon have light of its own?
No, the Moon doesn’t have its own light. It shines because it reflects the Sun's light.
Which is longer, a year or a lunar month?
A year (the time Earth takes to orbit the Sun) is longer than a lunar month (the time it takes the Moon to orbit Earth).
What is the Sun made of?
The Sun is made mostly of hydrogen and helium gases.
Why is the Sun important for Earth?
The Sun gives light and warmth, which are essential for life on Earth. It helps plants grow and keeps our planet warm.
How long does it take Earth to orbit the Sun?
It takes about one year, or 365 days, for Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun.
How long does it take the Moon to orbit the Earth?
It takes about one month, or 28 to 29 days, for the Moon to complete one orbit around Earth.
How are Earth’s orbit and the Moon’s orbit different?
Earth’s orbit is around the Sun and takes a year, while the Moon’s orbit is around Earth and takes about a month.
Can you stand on the Sun?
No, you can't stand on the Sun because it’s a hot ball of gases and doesn’t have a solid surface.
How does the Sun move in our sky?
The Sun appears to move across our sky from east to west each day because Earth is rotating on its axis.
What causes seasons on Earth?
Seasons are caused by Earth's tilted axis as it orbits the Sun, changing how much sunlight different parts of Earth receive during the year.
What are the phases of the Moon?
Phases of the Moon are changes in how much of the Moon's lit side we can see from Earth, ranging from new Moon to full Moon.
Why does the Moon sometimes look like a crescent?
The Moon looks like a crescent when only a small part of its side facing us is lit by the Sun.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun’s light from reaching us.
What happens to Earth’s temperature when it's closer to the Sun?
Even though Earth’s orbit is elliptical, its distance from the Sun doesn’t significantly affect our temperature. Our seasons are more due to Earth’s tilted axis.
How does Earth's orbit affect our view of stars?
As Earth orbits the Sun, our night sky changes and different stars are visible at different times of the year.
How does the Moon affect tides on Earth?
The Moon’s gravity pulls on Earth's water, causing high tides when it’s closest to and farthest from a part of Earth.
Why do we always see the same side of the Moon?
We always see the same side of the Moon because it rotates on its axis at the same rate it orbits Earth, a phenomenon called synchronous rotation.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon, making it look reddish.
How does the Sun’s gravity affect Earth?
The Sun’s gravity keeps Earth and other planets in their orbits, preventing them from drifting off into space.
What is the Goldilocks Zone?
The Goldilocks Zone is the habitable zone around a star where it’s not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist, crucial for life as we know it.
What are some missions that have explored the Moon?
Missions like Apollo 11, which first landed humans on the Moon, and recent missions like Artemis are exploring the Moon.
How is the Moon’s orbit tilted in relation to Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
The Moon’s orbit is tilted about 5 degrees to Earth’s orbital plane around the Sun, which affects when and how lunar eclipses occur.
Why do planets orbit the Sun?
Planets orbit the Sun because its massive gravity pulls them into a path around it, a fundamental principle explained by Kepler's laws of planetary motion.