Moon PhasesSun-Earth-Moon

System Notes

Rotation• Earth– Spinning on its axis– Causes day & night

• Takes 24 hours

• Moon– Spinning on its axis– Takes 27.3 days

Revolution• Movement of an object around another object– Earth & Sun– Moon & Earth

• Earth Year = 364 ¼ days• Moon Year = 27.3 days• Moon’s rotation (1 day) is equal to Moon’s

revolution (27.3 days)

Moon Phases • Caused by the positions of the Moon, Earth & Sun

• Phase of the Moon you see depend on how much of the sunlit side of the Moon faces the Earth

• Moon goes through all phases during every revolution (8 Phases Total)

Eclipse• When an object in space comes between the

Sun and a 3rd Object then a shadow is cast on that object.

Solar Eclipse• Moon passes between Earth & the Sun– Blocking light from reaching the Earth– SunMoonEarth

Lunar Eclipse• Occurs at Full Moon• Earth is between the Moon & Sun– Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon– Moon appears dark– SunEarthMoon

Tides• The rise and fall of the

level of water every 12.5 hours– It rises for 6 hrs then falls

for 6 hrs

• Tides occur mainly because of difference in how much the Moon pulls on different parts of Earth

• Gravity = main factor

Spring Tides• High tides = high water level• Low tides = low water level• Happens twice a month when the

Earth, the Sun, and the Moon are nearly in a straight line.– Occur during the Full Moon and the

New Moon

Neap Tides• High tides = low water level• Low tides = high water level• Happens twice a month when

the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon are at Right (90°) Angles.– Occur during the Quarter Moons