Astronomy 3

What topics are covered in part one of booklet 3?

The first moon landing, moon formation, the moon’s glow, moon phases, eclipses,

Why does the moon look different each night?

Different parts of the moon are lit up by the sun as the moon travels in it’s orbit

How many moon phases are there?

8

What are the names of the moon phases?

First quarter, waxing cresent, new moon, waning cresent, third quarter, waning Gibbous, full moon, waxing Gibbous

When do solar eclipses happen? Why?

During new moons, it’s the only time in it’s orbit it’s located between the sun and earth.

Why don’t solar eclipses occur every new moon?

Because the plane of the earth's orbit and the plane of the moon's orbit are not aligned?

What is a solar eclipse?

When the moon overlaps the sun.

What is a lunar eclipse?

When the moon is hidden in the earth’s shadow.

When does a lunar eclipse occur?

During a full moon.

What topics are covered in part 2 of booklet 3?

The earths axis of rotation, day and night, time zones, tides, earths orbit, and seasons

What is a rotation?

A spin around a center.

What is an axis?

An imaginary vertical line that goes from the north pole to the south pole.

At what angle is the earth's axis?

23.5°

What star is earth’s axis in line of?

Polaris, also called the the North Star.

Why does Polaris not appear to move?

Because it’s directly above the earth's axis

Where is Polaris seen?

Only in the northern hemisphere.

What constellation does Polaris belong to?

The little dipper.

What caused the earth to tilt?

Being hit by an asteroid, Theia, which also created the moon.