Moon Characteristics
What type of rock feature forms on the Moon due to impacts from space debris?
Craters
What do we call a moon that has a sliver of light on its left side?
Waning Crescent
Why does the Moon have a greater effect on tides than the Sun?
Because the Moon is much closer to Earth
What causes Earth’s seasons
Earth’s 23.5° axial tilt
Which astronomer made extremely accurate naked-eye measurements of the stars and planets before the invention of the telescope?
Tycho Brahe
Took pictures/videos, took samples, set up experiments, placed down the American flag
This phase is when the lit side of the Moon is facing away from Earth.
New Moon
What causes Earth's tides?
Due to the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun
Which day has the longest daylight in the Northern Hemisphere? (name and approximate date)
Summer Solstice (June 21)
Explain the difference between a reflecting, refracting, radio, and infrared telescopes.
reflecting telescopes use mirrors to gather and focus light, refracting telescopes use lenses, radio telescopes detect radio waves from space, and infrared telescopes detect heat
What is the term used to describe the reason we only see one side of the moon and what does it mean?
Synchronous Rotation
Definition: Rotates at the same rate it revolves around the Earth
Why are they called first and third quarter moons?
Because they are 1/4 and 3/4 the way through the moon phase cycle
Beach going, Marine Industry (lobstering, crabbing, clamming), boat navigation, coastal erosion, storms, flooding
What happens during an equinox?
Equal hours of day and night
What did Edwin Hubble discover about galaxies?
That they are moving away from us / the universe is expanding?
Why does the Moon experience extreme temperature changes between lunar day and night?
it has no atmosphere to trap or distribute heat
What do we call it when the lit portion of the Moon is increasing?
Waxing
When do neap tides and spring tides occur?
(List position of Earth Sun Moon as well as Moon phases)
Neap: Sun, Earth, Moon at 90 degree angle - First and Third Quarter
Spring: Sun, Earth, Moon in straight line - Full and New Moon
When it is spring in Maine, what season is it in Australia?
Fall
What is the difference between direct and indirect measurement
Direct involves physically measuring something with a tool like a ruler
Indirect involves using proportions, ratios, scales, measurements of known objects to figure out the measurement of something else
Why does the Moon have more visible craters than Earth?
Because the Moon has no atmosphere, weather, or liquid water to erode them
Why do moon phases occur?
Because the Moon orbits Earth, changing the angle at which sunlight hits the Moon
Why are spring tides stronger than neap tides?
Because with spring tides, the moon and sun are pulling together while during neap tides they are pulling in opposite directions.
Explain why the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience opposite seasons.
Because Earth’s tilt causes each hemisphere to receive different amounts of sunlight at the same time
What is the heliocentric model and why did Copernicus not tell everyone about his theory? When did people finally know about it?
It is the solar system model that we use today that has the Sun at the center of the solar system with all the planets orbitting it. He didn't share his findings in fear of being detained due to the fact that the geocentric model was accepted by the church and going against the church was against the law. Because knew about it because Galileo read Copernicus's book and shared the findings/supported them. (leading him to be on house arrest)