Distance from the Sun 1 Astronomical Unit = 149, 597, 871 kilometers

Average Distance from the Earth to the Moon: 221,567 miles

Average Distance from the Earth to the Sun: 93,020,000 miles (149, 597, 871km )(1 AU)

DID YOU KNOW THE MOON CAUSES TIDES????

What are tides? Tides are periodic rise and fall of large bodies of water. Tides are caused by the gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon. The gravitational attraction of the moon causes the oceans to bulge out in the direction of the moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side, since the Earth is also being pulled toward the moon (and away from the water on the far side). Since the Earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides occur each day.

Spring Tides SPRING TIDES Spring tides are especially strong tides (they do not have anything to do with the season Spring). They occur when the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon are in a line. The gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun both contribute to the tides. Spring tides occur during the full moon and the new moon.

NEAP TIDES Neap tides are especially weak tides. They occur when the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun are perpendicular to one another (with respect to the Earth). Neap tides occur during quarter moons.

EARTH’S SEASONS

What causes Earth’s seasons? The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted in relation to the ecliptic plane, an imaginary surface through Earth's orbit around the sun. This means the northern and southern hemispheres will sometimes point toward or away from the sun depending on the time of year, varying the amount of light they receive and causing the seasons.

Tilt of the Earth’s axis towards or away from the sun creates the seasons When the north pole tilts toward the sun, it gets more radiation – more warmth during the summer SUMMER (Northern Hemisphere) North Pole Equator Earth When the north pole tilts toward the sun, the south pole tilts away So when it’s summer in the north, it’s winter in the south WINTER (Southern Hemisphere)

Tilt of the Earth’s axis towards or away from the sun creates the seasons WINTER (Northern Hemisphere) When the north pole tilts away from the sun, it gets less radiation – So it’s colder during the winter North Pole Equator Earth South Pole When the north pole tilts away from the sun, the south pole tilts toward it… When it’s winter in the north, it’s summer in the south SUMMER (Southern Hemisphere)

Does the Moon have seasons? The tilt of Earth's axis is about 23.5 degrees, but the tilt of the moon's axis is only about 1.5 degrees. As such, the moon virtually has no seasons. This means that some areas are always lit by sunlight, and other places are perpetually draped in shadow. Videos

What is a Solstice? At two points throughout the year, the tilt of the Earth’s axis reaches its maximum angle compared to the Sun, and begins to move back the other direction. This usually happens around June 21st and December 21st. These days are known as solstices. On these solstices, the rays of the Sun shine directly on one of the two Tropics. During the June Solstice the rays of the Sun shine directly on the Tropic of Cancer. During the December Solstice the Sun’s rays shine on the Tropic of Capricorn.

Solstice June 21st December 21st

What is an Equinox As the Earth moves around its orbit, it reaches two points during the year where the tilt of its axis causes it to be straight relative to the Sun. These days are known as equinoxes. During these equinoxes the rays of the Sun shine directly on the equator. This happens on approximately March 20th and September 22nd.

Equinox March 20th and September 22nd Worksheet

Vocabulary to know! Ellipse- A closed, symmetric curve shaped like an oval. Earth’s shape is nearly circular! Tilt- to cause to lean, incline, slope, or slant.

Clementine’s Contributions Clementine's four cameras took more than 2 million pictures of the moon. A laser device measured the height and depth of mountains, craters, and other features. Radar signals that Clementine bounced off the moon provided evidence of a large deposit of frozen water. The ice appeared to be inside craters at the south pole. Another kind of information collected by the Clementine Spacecraft indicates what kinds of minerals make up moon rocks. Clementine Space Craft got its name after the song, "Oh my darling Clementine." The song has a line ' Thou art lost and gone forever' - a reference to its one-way journey with no return.

Phases of the Moon

Terms to know…. Umbra-The completely dark portion of the shadow cast by the earth, moon, or other body during an eclipse. Penumbra-A partial shadow, as in an eclipse, between regions of complete shadow and complete illumination.

Lunar Eclipse

Lunar vs. Solar Eclipse A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun, and the Earth's shadow obscures the moon or a portion of it. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking all or a portion of the Sun.

Lunar Eclipse A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its umbra (shadow). This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle.

Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun. This can happen only at the new moon phase.

Lunar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse

Why doesn’t a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse occur every month? Solar and lunar eclipses don't occur every month because the plane of the Moon's orbit around the Earth is not aligned with the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The Moon's path is tilted when compared to the plane of Earth's orbit, so the Moon is not in a direct line with the Sun and Earth. In a solar eclipse, the Moon must be directly between the Sun and the Earth. Similarly, in a lunar eclipse (slightly more frequent), the shadow of the Earth has to fall on the Moon.

Can you remember…. What is a neap tide? What is a spring tide? What is an Equinox? What is a Solstice? What is a lunar eclipse? What is a solar eclipse? What does AU stand for?