Eclipses
Lunar Phases
Seasons
Tides
Definitions
100
What conditions are required for a total solar eclipse
The Moon and the Sun must have both the same Right Ascension & Declination while the moon is at perigee (closest approach).
100
What is the phase when the Moon is 12 hours right ascension from the Sun?
Full moon
100
What is the position of the Sun on the winter solstice?
-23.5 degrees declination or 26.5˚altitude at noon
100
Where is the moon during a high tide?
The moon is overhead
100
What do we call the period of the lunar orbit with respect to the stars (hint: this is the same as the Moon's rotational period)?
Sidereal month
200
What conditions produce a partial lunar eclipse?
This type of eclipse is when the Moon enters Earth's umbra, but not completely.
200
What is the phase of the Moon when it is between 90 and 180 degrees from the Sun?
Waxing Gibbous
200
What is the reason we experience less solar heating when the Sun is lower in the sky?
The same amount of radiant energy is delivered to a larger area
200
When the moon is rising you are experiencing this type of tide.
Low tide
200
What do we call the period between successive new moons.
A synodic month
300
What do we call the type of lunar eclipse in which no part of the moon enters the Earth's umbra?
Penumbral eclipse
300
How much of the illuminated portion of the Moon can we see when it is 6 hours right ascension from the Sun?
50%
300
What would happen if the Earth's axial tilt increased to 30˚?
The tropics region would increase to between 30N and 30S. The arctic and antarctic circles would extend from the poles down to 60N and 60S. In general, the seasons experienced on Earth would be more severe. At latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees, the intensity of solar radiation would be cut by half from the summer solstice to the winter solstice.
300
What time will the first low tide be expected to occur on the 3rd quarter moon?
Noon
300
This is a less extreme tide that occurs during 1st and last quarter moons.
Neap tide
400
What kind of conditions produce an annular eclipse?
This phenomenon occurs when the Moon & Sun have both the same right ascension and declination, but the Moon is not at perigee (closest approach)
400
What time does the 1st quarter moon set?
1st quarter moonset is at midnight
400
What would happen to the yearly record high temperature at the equator if the Earth's tilt were 90 ˚?
If the Earth's tilt were 90, the record high at the equator would probably not change, however the record high and low and every other location on Earth would be more extreme. Make sure you understand what seasons and the day-night cycle would be like on a planet with a 90˚ tilt.
400
At approximately what time will the low tide occur tonight if last night's low tide occurred at midnight?
12:50am
400
What is a Spring tide?
These are the more extreme tides that occur during the Full and New Moons. They occur because the Moon and Sun are aligned such that their tide generating forces are acting along the same dimension.
500
From which cardinal direction will the Sun always be eclipsed?
From West to East
500
What phase is the moon if it's in the Western part of the sky at 6pm?
Waxing crescent
500
If the Earth's axial tilt were 0˚, what would "seasons" on Earth be like? What would the day/night cycle be like?
If the Earth's axial tilt were 0˚, every day would be like the equinox - with equal day and night. The only source of seasons would the change in distance between the Earth and Sun throughout the year (147 to 153 million km). This means summer would occur in January everywhere on Earth. You would still have colder climates as you increase in latitude, can you explain why?
500
What is the declination of the Moon during the highest high tide on the Tropic of Cancer?
Other factors being equal, the highest high tides at this location will occur during new and full moons when the Moon has a declination of either +23.5˚ or -23.5˚.
500
How far in degrees does the Moon travel along its orbit each day? How many minutes is this?
13.187 degrees or 52.7 minutes.
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