1. Earth, Moon, Sun Vocabulary

2. The Earth is shaped like a sphere.
Round 3-dimensional object
The Earth is shaped like a sphere.

3. The Earth rotates on its axis.
The imaginary vertical line that goes through the center of the Earth, the poles are at each end
Earth is tilted 23.5⁰
The Earth rotates on its axis.
Axis

4. Rotation The Earth makes one rotation every day.
The spinning of earth on its axis, causes day and night to occur, one rotation takes about 1 day (or 24 hours)
The Earth makes one rotation every day.

5. Revolution
Earth’s yearly orbit around the sun, takes about 365 days
The Earth’s revolution takes about 1 year to completely go around the Sun.

6. Ellipse
An elongated, closed curve (smashed circle)
The Sun is at one end of the ellipse, not the center. The Earth travels around the sun in an ellipse.

7. Solstice
The day when the sun reaches its greatest distance, North (Summer) or South (Winter) of the equator.
Summer solstice is on June 21st or 22nd.
Winter solstice is on Dec 21st or 22nd.
The summer solstice is about the longest day of the year.  The winter solstice is about the shortest day of the year.

8. Equinox
Occurs when the sun is directly above the equator.
Spring equinox is on Mar 20th or 21st.
Fall equinox is on Sept 22nd or 23rd.
During the equinox the number of daylight hours & nighttime hours is nearly equal all over the world.

9. Seasons on Earth

10. Moon Phase
Different forms that the moon takes in its appearance from earth
The moon phase depends on the relative positions of the moon, earth & sun.

11. New Moon
The moon is between the Earth & the sun, lighted ½ faces the sun, dark side faces Earth, see the moon as a dark circle
The new moon rises and sets with the sun.

12. Waxing
More of the illuminated (lighted by the sun) ½ of the moon can be seen each night, it seems to grow bigger
     
There are several different phases of waxing moons.

13. Full Moon
When all of the moon’s surface facing Earth reflects light from the sun
The full moon is when you can see the whole moon.

14. Waning
Less of the illuminated side of the moon can be seen each night, seems to be shrinking
     
Waning occurs after a full moon.

15. Solar Eclipse Never look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse.
Occurs when the moon moves directly between the Sun & Earth and casts its shadow over part of Earth.
Umbra is the darkest portion of the moon’s shadow = total solar eclipse
Penumbra is the lighter shadow on Earth’s surface = partial solar eclipse
Never look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse.

16. Full Solar Eclipse Partial Solar Eclipse

17. Lunar Eclipse
When Earth’s shadow falls on the moon.
Lunar eclipses begin when the moon moves into Earth’s penumbra.
When only a portion of moon moves into Earth’s umbra = partial eclipse
When the Earth completely blocks the light from the sun = total lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse can be seen by anyone on the nighttime side of Earth, where the moon is not hidden by clouds.

18. Total Lunar Eclipse Partial Lunar Eclipse

19. Tides
Tides are the daily rise and fall of Earth’s waters on its coastlines.

20. Spring Tide
Spring tides occur 2 times a month, during a full and new moon when the Earth, Sun, and Moon are lined up.
Spring tides are higher and lower than normal tides.

21. Neap Tide
Neap tides occur in between spring tides, at the first and third quarters of the Moon when the Sun and Moon pull at right angles to each other.
Neap tides are not as high or low as normal tides.