Chapter 2

Earth and the Sun Our galaxy is Milky Way Solar system includes Earth, the other planets, and other objects that orbit the sun The sun is 93 million miles away – Heats and provides light for Earth Earth travels around the sun in a circular orbit – Orbit-which is the path one body makes as it circles around another

Earth and Sun cont. Earth take 365 ¼ days to complete one revolution in its orbit around sun Earth turns on its axis – Axis- an imaginary line running through Earth between North and South poles – Rotation-complete turn, takes 24 hours – As it turns day on one side, night on other – Earth turn towards the sun, so it appears to rise and set as we turn

Earth and Sun cont. Earth rotates towards the east – Day starts earlier in east Standard time zones – 24 standard time zones

Seasons and Latitude Axis of Earth is tilted relative to its orbit As the Earth moves in orbit it tilts towards or away from sun Summer solstice-the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest toward the sun Winter Solstice- Northern Hemisphere is tilted farther from the sun – Days are shorter, and cold weather When Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, Southern Hemisphere is tilted away

Seasons and Latitude cont. Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn- called low latitudes or the tropics Areas above Arctic Circle and below the Antarctic Circle are high latitudes or the polar zones Areas between high and low latitudes are the middle latitudes or the temperate zones – Have good seasons that change