Lunar Phases
How many phases are in the moon cycle?
8
Explain the difference between a lunar eclipses and a solar eclipses
In lunar eclipses, earth is casting a shadow on the moon.
In solar eclipses, the moon is casting a shadow on earth.
True or False: Seasons occur due to the distance that Earth is from the sun at different points within its orbit.
False. Seasons occur due to the tilt of Earth's axis.
What grade was Terry Virts in when he became interested in becoming an astronaut?
Kindergarten
How long does it take for Earth to rotate on it's axis?
24 hours
A moon that is complete dark to view, meaning we see no illumination is what phase?
New Moon
What is the more narrow, focused shadow, called?
See image
Umbra
If the southern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, what season is it there?
Winter
How do astronauts get their nicknames?
Usually nicknames come from an inside joke, sometimes derived from them making funny mistakes.
Explain the Heliocentric theory. How is it different from the Geocentric theory?
Heliocentric - sun is the center of the universe
Geocentric - Earth is the center of the universe
Depending on the source of reference, the moon revolves around Earth between 27-29 days. What does this revolution mean on the Gregorian Calendar?
One month
If the moon is positioned in the Earth's penumbra, what type of eclipse is this called?
What is the degree of Earth's tilt on its axis?
23.5 degrees
What is the "red button" used for at the command center?
The red button is pressed only if something goes terribly wrong when a space shuttle is launched and starts heading toward civilization. When the button is pressed it destroys the space shuttle.
They do not happen every month because the Earth's orbit around the sun is not in the same plane as the Moon's orbit around the Earth.
What does waxing and waning mean (specify the definition of each), AND which one comes first in the lunar cycle.
Waxing = getting larger
Waning = becoming smaller
Waxing is first in the lunar cycle.
How long does it take for a total solar eclipse to occur twice in the same location?
375 years.
What would be different about seasons if Earth did not have a tilt?
There would be no seasons at the poles of the Earth. There would be a constant season similar to the tropical areas at the equator, however crops and farming would be extremely limited.
True or False - Terry Virts spent more than 200 days on the moon? If false, correct the statement to be true.
False! Terry Virts has not gone to the moon. He spent over 200 days on the international space center.
What is the name of the force that keeps keeps our planets within their orbits? This force explains why the planets are directed to the center of the solar system (ie. the sun).
Centripetal Force
Name all 8 phases of the lunar cycle in correct order
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
1st quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full moon
Waning gibbous
3rd quarter
Waning Crescent
Draw an annular eclipse
See image
Explain how seasons on Mars are similar AND different from the seasons on Earth.
Mars has the same degree of tilt on its axis so seasons occur in the same way as they do on Earth (summer, spring, fall, winter). However, because Mars's rotation on its axis is twice as long as Earth's rotation, the seasons are twice as long.
What was the name of the book Terry Virts authored that was brought into class?
A View from Above
Explain Newton's first law of motion - Inertia
A body at rest will remain at rest until a force acts upon it and causes it to move or change direction.
***note - this law also states that if a body is moving at a constant speed it will stay at that constant until a force acts upon it***