Earth’s Motions
What motion of Earth causes day and night?
Rotation
What is the exact tilt of Earth’s axis?
23.5 Degrees
What is the imaginary dome surrounding Earth on which stars appear to move?
Celestial Sphere
If a person is in their bedroom in Baghdad, where is the zenith?
Directly above them
What term describes the line where the sky and Earth appear to meet?
Horizon
How long does one full rotation of Earth take?
23 hours 56 minutes
Which date marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere?
June 21st The Summer Solstice
What line divides the Celestial Sphere into northern and southern halves?
Celestial Equator
What term describes the line where the sky and Earth appear to meet?
Horizon
What Zodiac is Mrs Flajole?
Virgo
What motion of Earth causes the seasons?
Revolution around the Sun combined with Earth’s tilt
Which date marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere?
December 21 (Winter Solstice)
What point in the sky is directly overhead an observer?
Zenith
What do we call the imaginary line above Earth’s equator projected into the sky?
Celestial Equtor
What causes constellations to appear to move across the night sky?
The Earth's Rotation Axis
How long does one full revolution of Earth around the Sun take?
365.25 days
On what two days are daylight and darkness nearly equal everywhere?
March 21 and September 22 (the Equinoxes)
What star is almost directly above Earth’s North Pole? and Why does it appear fixed in the night sky?
Polaris, And because is located almost exactly along Earth’s rotational axis
At what point in the sky is the Sun at its highest at noon?
Local Meridian
What group of 12 constellations lies along the ecliptic?
The Zodiac
What invisible line passes through Earth from pole to pole?
Axis
If Earth’s axis were not tilted, what seasonal change would occur?
No seasonal changes would occur
What does solstice stand for and what determines when it happens for each solstice?
It stands for "Sun Still" and is in the Northern Hemisphere it is June 21st and It is in the Southern Hemisphere on December 21st. (different Hemispheres).
What is the reason we cannot see the constellations some times? And how often does this occur?
They are blocked by the glare of the sun, 1 time a month
Name 3 Constellations that are on the Zodiac
Aries (ram) Taurus (bull) Gemini (twins) Cancer (crab) Leo (lion)
Virgo (maiden) Libra (scales) Scorpius (scorpion) Sagittarius (archer)
Capricornus(sea-goat) Aquarius (water-bearer) Pisces (fish)