Earth, Sun, Moon System
What are the three main objects make up the Earth-Sun-Moon system?
Earth, Sun, and Moon
Why can we see the Moon even though it does not produce its own visible light?
It reflects sunlight
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere experiences?
summer
About how long does it take Earth to complete one rotation on its axis?
24 hours
At any given time, approximately how much of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun?
One-half
What is the main cause of Earth's seasons?
Earth's tilted axis as Earth revolves around the Sun
How can you describe Earth's axis?
It is tilted.
When the visible illuminated portion of the Moon is getting larger, the Moon is.
waxing
When Earth is approximately between the Sun and Moon, which Moon phase occurs?
Full moon
About how long does it take Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun?
One year
When the Moon is approximately between the Sun and Earth, which Moon phase occurs?
New moon
What happens during a solar eclipse?
The Moon blocks sunlight from reaching part of Earth.
Why do we generally see the same side of the Moon from Earth?
The Moon rotates at about the same rate that it orbits Earth.
Why does the Moon appear to change shape throughout the month?
The Moon orbits Earth, causing us to see different amounts of its illuminated half.
Why don't solar and lunar eclipses happen every month?
The Moon's orbital plane is tilted compared with Earth's orbital plane.