1. Planetary characteristics
Review: Astronomy
Main Ideas:
Earth’s Motions
Moon’s Cycle
Satellites Orbits
Planetary characteristics
Star Classification
Big Bang Theory

2. What determines the Earth’s time table?
Rotation: spin on its axis; day; 24 hours : day/night
Causes the Sun to appear to move 15 degrees per hour
In NY State Sun highest in June lowest in Dec.
Rises in East; Sets in West
In Dec rises SE
In June rises NE
Sept/ March rise Due East

3. What is Earth’s other motion?
Revolution: Orbit around the Sun; year days
Causes the seasons
Equinox: 12 hours everywhere
Sun above Equator
March 21/ Sept 23
Solstice: Longer day/night
Sun above Tropics
Dec 21/ June 21

4. What does the Moon’s phases cause?
Moon’s Phases: Caused by the Moon orbiting around the Earth.
Always see the same side b/c the moon rotates and revolves at the same rate.

5. What else does the Moon’s Phases cause?
Moon causes the tides
Spring: higher highs; Sun & Moon are alligned
Neap: Lower highs; Sun & Moon are at right angles

6. What are the two types of eclipses?
Solar Eclipse: Moon is between the Earth and the Sun: New Moon phase
Lunar Eclipse: Earth is between the Moon and the Sun
Full Moon Phase

7. How do we determine a planet’s orbit?
Orbit: planet revolving around Sun
Ellipse: oval shape of orbit
Eccentricity: shape of the ellipse
E= Distance of foci
length of major axis
Answers between 0 and 1
One is a straight line
Zero a perfect circle

8. How can we determine a planets characteristics?
What is the only planets who’s day is longer than their year?

9. What is a star? Self luminating object.
Energy emitted as elecromagnetic spectrum.
Comes in different color and sizes.
Sun is a main sequence star.
Average in size and color

10. How can we classify stars?
Stars are classified by either temperature, color or star class and by luminosity

11. What is a constellation?
Constellation: Group of stars that make a character. Ancient people tell stories about them. Helped determine crops w/ planting.
Big Dipper points to Polaris (North Star)

12. What is a galaxy? Galaxy: Billions of Stars
Universe: Billions of galaxies

13. What is the Big Bang Theory?
Theory of the start of the universe.
Universe is still expanding.
Proof: The Red Shift
Expanding
Contracting