Earth–Sun–Moon Patterns
This motion of Earth causes day and night.
What is rotation?
These four planets are small, rocky, and closest to the Sun.
What are the inner (terrestrial) planets?
The Sun is this type of object.
What is a star?
These planets are large, made mostly of gas, and located far from the Sun.
What are the outer (gas giant) planets?
A huge collection of stars, dust, and gas held together by gravity is called this.
What is a galaxy?
The Moon’s changing appearance over about 29.5 days is called this.
What are the lunar phases?
This region between Mars and Jupiter contains many rocky objects.
What is the asteroid belt?
The Sun produces energy through this process in its core.
What is nuclear fusion?
This planet has the hottest surface temperature because of its thick CO₂ atmosphere.
What is Venus?
The distance light travels in one year is called this.
What is a light‑year?
When the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, this event happens.
What is a solar eclipse?
A chunk of rock that burns up in Earth’s atmosphere is called this.
What is a meteor?
Dark, cooler areas on the Sun’s surface are called this.
What are sunspots?
This planet rotates on its side, giving it extreme seasons.
What is Uranus?
Our galaxy is this type of galaxy.
What is a barred spiral galaxy?
These two factors cause Earth’s seasons.
What are tilt and revolution around the Sun?
These icy objects develop glowing tails when they get close to the Sun.
What are comets?
These sudden bursts of energy can disrupt satellites and communication on Earth.
What are solar flares?
Mars appears red because its surface contains this mineral.
What is iron oxide (rust)?
A star’s color tells you this property.
What is its temperature?
High tides occur on the side facing the Moon and the opposite side because of this force.
What is gravity (the Moon’s gravitational pull)?
These two forces keep planets in orbit around the Sun.
What is gravity and inertia?
The Sun’s outermost layer, visible during a total solar eclipse, is called this.
What is the corona?
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is this type of weather feature.
What is a giant storm?
Massive stars end their life cycles in this explosive event.
What is a supernova?