Unit 1 (Unit 4 in textbook) Space Unit 1 (Unit 4 in textbook)
Celestial Bodies Planets Natural bodies in space such as… Moons Asteroids Comets Stars
How do celestial bodies move? Planets, suns and moons rotate on a central axis:
How do celestial bodies move? Celestial bodies move in orbits caused by gravitational forces:
Constellations Patterns of stars are called constellations Constellations are based on Greek mythology (and lots of imagination) For example: Ursa Major (Big Bear)
Constellations Ursa Minor (Little Bear)
Constellations Orion (the Hunter)
Constellations Cassiopeia (the Queen)
Constellations Leo (the Lion)
Constellations Asterisms, such as the Big Dipper, are groups of stars forming patterns within a constellation
Constellations Constellations in our north sky which never go below the horizon are called circumpolar constellations. Examples: Ursa Minor Ursa Major Cassiopeia Draco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V3rmDG5J8A&feature=related
Zodiacal Constellations Zodiacal constellations are the 12 constellations that lie on the sun’s ecliptic (the ecliptic is the path through the sky that the sun appears to follow each day) Your “sign” is determined by the constellation that was on the other side of the sun when you were born...
Seasonal Constellations Because earth moves around the Sun every year, we see a different part of the sky (and different constellations!!) during each season
Orbits All the planets and asteroids in our solar system seem to orbit on the same plane Comets are an exception and can orbit above or below the ecliptic