Astronomical Phenomena
This natural light display, also known as the northern lights, is visible in the northern hemisphere’s skies.
What is an aurora?
This is the main reason why different parts of Earth experience seasons at different times.
What is the tilt of Earth’s axis?
The time it takes for the Earth to do one full rotation around the sun?
What is 12 months/1 year?
This annual event is celebrated by many cultures to mark the start of winter or summer.
What is the solstice?
This term describes events like seasons, moon phases, and eclipses, which are observable in space.
What are astronomical phenomena?
In the northern hemisphere, this season begins when the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun.
What is summer?
Earth’s rotation on its axis causes this daily cycle of light and dark.
What is day and night?
This phase of the moon signifies a time of harvest and celebration in Métis cultures
What is a full moon
This type of eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the Moon.
What is a lunar eclipse?
This astronomical event marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
What is the summer solstice?
The time it takes for Earth to complete one rotation on its axis.
What is 24 hours?
What are the moon phases that happen in a year?
Twice a year, we experience this astronomical event when day and night are nearly equal in length.
What is an equinox?
Because of Earth’s tilt, the northern and southern hemispheres experience these two seasons at opposite times.
What are summer and winter?
The tilt of Earth’s axis causes this major change in temperature and daylight throughout the year.
What are the seasons?
Many First Nations and Métis people share stories and hold ceremonies to teach about this natural cycle.
What are seasons?
These predictable changes in the appearance of the Moon repeat in a cycle approximately every 29.5 days.
What are moon phases?
This imaginary line divides the Earth into northern and southern halves, affecting the way seasons are experienced in each hemisphere.
What is the equator?
This imaginary line through Earth’s poles is tilted and affects how sunlight hits each hemisphere.
What is Earth’s axis?
This natural event, often seen in the night sky, is celebrated by Indigenous cultures as a reminder of the interconnectedness of people, land, and sky.
What is the aurora borealis (or northern lights)?