Astronomical Phenomena
Name 3 examples of astronomical phenomena
What does the term 'waxing' mean?
Growing
What season is this:
This part of the earth is tilted towards the Sun. This means the sunlight hits it more directly, like shining a flashlight straight down. This makes it warmer and gives us longer days.
Summer
Calendars
Calendars help track seasons, plan agricultural activities, and celebrate important events.
Example: Lunar Calendar
A day that has equal hours of daylight and night
Equinox
Which side of the moon is illuminated during the 'waxing gibbous' phase?
What season is this:
This part of the Earth is tilted away from the Sun. the sunlight hits it at an angle, like shining a flashlight at a slant. This makes it colder and gives us shorter days.
Winter
Cycles
Cycles help people anticipate and prepare for different times of the year.
Example: Changing seasons, moon phases.
The shortest and longest days of the year
Solstice
Why might a hunter prefer to hunt during a New Moon and not a Full Moon?
Which season is this:
This part of the earth is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. We get a mix of sunlight, so the days and nights are about the same length.
Fall or Spring
Stories and Legends
Stories and legends help explain and understand the wonders of natural phenomena. They reflect beliefs about the world.
Example: Northern Lights as ancestors in the sky.
Particles collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere, making them glow.
Aurora
How can farmers use the phases of the moon to help them grow crops?
New Moon - First Quarter is considered the best time to plant crops that grow above ground.
Full Moon - Last Quarter is considered the best time to plant root crops.
The gravitational pull from the moon impacts what plants will grow best during which time.
How is plant growth affected by the seasons? Give 2 examples
Trees shed leaves in winter to conserve water.
Flowers bloom in spring when sunlight and warmth return.
Some plants have dormant seeds that wait for the right season to sprout.
Artifacts
Artifacts demonstrate how people observed and utilized astronomical knowledge.
Example: Sundials, astrolabes, and star charts.
Earth passes between the sun and the moon causing earth to cast a shadow on the moon
Lunar eclipse
Name all 8 phases of the moon in order starting with
New Moon
New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent
How does understanding Earth's tilt help us understand why we have different seasons?
Because Earth is tilted, different parts of Earth gets more direct sunlight at different times of the year. When our part of Earth is tilted towards the Sun, it gets more direct sunlight. This means longer days and warmer weather - summer! When the part of Earth we live on is tilted away from the Sun, it gets less direct sunlight. This means shorter days and colder weather - winter!
Models and Digital Simulations
Today we use models and digital simulations to visualize complex astronomical concepts.
Example: We use them to understand the formation of galaxies.