EARTH, SUN AND MOON Earth, Sun and Moon

FOCAULT PENDULUM – CONFIRMS THE EARTH’S ROTATION The pendulum hangs from a tall ceiling and the weight at the end swings back and forth. It makes the pattern at the right over one full day. It does this because the Earth rotates on its axis.

MOON PHASES ARE A RESULT OF THE MOON’S ORBIT AROUND THE EARTH. THE PHASES GO THROUGH A COMPLETE CYCLE EACH MONTH.

Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis. The axis tilt is always the same. As the Earth orbits the Sun, the axis tilt changes because of the orbit. When the axis is tilted towards the Sun, it is SUMMER in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. This is called the summer solstice for us in the north. The opposite occurs on winter solstice or first day of winter. When the axis is PERPENDICULAR to the Sun, there is no tilt Therefore equal day and night. This happens TWICE A YEAR at the Spring and Autumn Equinox

Because the orbits of the Earth and Moon are not exactly on the same plane, The Earth will cast a shadow on the Moon every few years.

During a Solar Eclipse, the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth. Because the Moon is so small compared to the Earth and Sun,the shadow is fairly narrow. The very center of the shadow is Where observers will see a total solar eclipse. On either side of the path of totality, the shadow becomes less and less. Observers then witness a partial solar eclipse

Altitude is angle af the “object” above the horizon Azimuth is the compass direction 0 degrees is NORTH; 90 degrees is EAST 180 degrees is SOUTH; 270 degrees is WEST