Moon Phases
How many phases of the Moon are there?
8
Which Moon phase does a solar eclipse occur at?
New Moon
Which Moon phase does a lunar eclipse occur at?
Full Moon
What degree is Earth's tilt and which direction is it always pointed in?
23.5 degrees, always pointed toward the North
What causes the change of seasons on Earth?
Earth's revolution and tilt
Which phase of the Moon occurs between the full moon and the last quarter?
Waning Gibbous
In what order is the Earth, Sun, and Moon positioned in to create a Solar Eclipse?
Sun, Moon, Earth
In what order is the Earth, Sun, and Moon positioned in to create a Lunar Eclipse?
Sun, Earth, Moon
What's the difference between rotation and revolution?
Rotation: spin on its axis
Revolution: orbit, revolve, to move around
How long does it take for the Earth to complete one revolution on its axis?
365.25 days
How long does it take the Moon to complete one full cycle of its phases?
29.5 days
How does a partial solar eclipse differ from a total solar eclipse?
Partial: Moon partially covers the Sun, viewers located in the penumbra
Total: Moon completely covers the Sun, viewers located in the umbra
During a lunar eclipse, when the Moon passes through the Earth's outer shadow, what is the fainter outer part of the shadow called?
Penumbra
How long does it take for the Earth to complete one rotation on its axis?
24 hours
Which seasons are equinoxes and which are solstices?
Equinoxes: Fall & Spring
Solstices: Winter & Summer
What are the names of the moon phases in order?
NM, Wax C, 1st Q, Wax G, FM, Wane G, 3rd Q, Wane C
Why doesn't a solar eclipse occur for every new moon phase?
5 degree elliptical orbit by the Moon
Umbra: inner shaded shadow cone
Penumbra: outer shaded shadow cone
Keep PUP in mind for the order of the shadows
Why do we experience day and night on Earth?
Earth's rotation
During the fall and spring, both the northern and southern hemisphere receive the same amount of light. True or False?
True
Why does the moon appear to change its shape during different phases?
The Moon appears to change its shape during different phases because of its orbit around Earth and the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. As the moon reflects sunlight off its surface, the varying angles between the Earth, Moon, and Sun result in different portions of the Moon being illuminated and visible from Earth.
Path of totality
Why does the Moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?
The Sun's rays filters out blue light from the Earth's atmosphere and other colors except red. Red is leftover and hits the moon as the remaining color that hasn't been scattered by the Sun.
What causes a leap year?
The Earth's orbit around the Sun takes about 365.25 days, not precisely 365 days.
To account for this fractional part of a day, we add an extra day to the calendar approximately every four years.
Why do the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience opposite seasons?
Based on Earth's axial tilt and orbit around the Sun. As the Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. The axial tilt, combined with Earth's orbit around the Sun, leads to opposite seasons in the hemispheres.