Our Earth, Sun, and Moon

The path an object takes as it travels around another object. orbit

A body that has the shape of a ball or globe. sphere

In the process of getting larger. waxing

In the process of getting smaller. waning

To turn. rotate

A temporary state of being. phase

To move around another object in a circular way. revolve

A real or imaginary line through the center of a spinning object. axis

The full sequence of the Moon’s phases. lunar cycle

A period of time when the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow. lunar eclipse

The imaginary line that divides Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres. equator

The moon revolves around the Earth. It takes the moon about 4 weeks to orbit Earth.

Moon’s Phases The lunar cycle takes 4 weeks.

Lunar Eclipse When the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon it is called a lunar eclipse.

Seasons Seasons on Earth are caused by Earth’s revolution around the Sun and Earth’s tilt as it makes its orbit.