Planets and their Moons

Earth, Moon, SunWho’s orbiting who?

Satellites? Moons? What’s the difference?

The Moon is the Earth’s satellite (Earth is kind of one of the Sun’s Satellites)

A Satellite is an object that revolves around a planet.

Lunar Vs. Solar EclipseLunar Eclipse Solar Eclipse

when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and fully or partially covers the Sun (specific viewing point).

when the moon passes behind the earth such that the earth blocks the sun’s rays from reflecting off of the moon.

Lunar Phases. (What’s the sun got to do with it?)

Lunar Phases

The phases of the moon change as a result of the moon revolving around the Earth.

Depending on where the moon is in it’s revolution, more or less of it will appear to be “glowing” to the viewer on Earth. (this is how much of the sunlit side of the moon is facing Earth).

Tides- what’s the moon got to do with it? Tides are the rising and falling of ocean

water every 12.5 hours. There are both high tides, and low tides. The tides are caused mainly by

differences in how much the moon’s gravity pulls on different parts of Earth.

High Tides and Low Tides

High tides occur on the side closest to the moon as well as the side of the Earth directly opposite.

Low tides occur between the two high tides on the sides between.

Spring Tides vs. Neap Tides

Spring tides are the tides with the greatest difference between the high and low tides. This is because of the combined gravity of the Sun and the Moon acting on the Earth.

Neap tides are the tides with the smallest difference between the high and low tides. This is because the Sun and the Moon are at a right angle to the Earth.

Both occur twice a month.