Warm-Up Why do we have seasons? Time’s Up!

Sky Time Review

 Why do we have seasons?  Because the Earth spins on a tilted axis. The part tilting toward the sun gets more direct sunlight = summer.  When is summer in Australia? Why?  During our winter – they are tilted toward when we are tilted away  What shape do stars trace in the sky? Why?  In a circle, because they appear to move around the North Star (Polaris)

 Why do the Sun, Moon, and Stars appear to rise from the East and set in the West?  The Earth rotates counter clockwise (to the east)  Why is the sun higher in the sky in the summer than it is in the winter?  Because the Earth spins on a tilted axis, so our perspective on the sun changes.  Why are the days longer in the summer than the winter?  Because the Earth spins on a tilted axis, so the sun takes longer to get through the sky during the summer.

 Why can’t we see the constellation Sagittarius all year?  The Sun blocks our view of it for part of the year.  What stars can we see all year?  The stars in the Northern sky (surrounding Polaris)  Will people in China see the same stars tonight as the people in the US?  YES! We are both in the northern hemisphere.

 What are the longest and shortest days of the year called?  Solstices  What are the days with equal day and night called?  Equinoxes