earth, sun, and moon

• Earth-Sun-Moon System


  The interaction between Earth, the sun and the moon
• Gravity


  The 'glue of the universe'. If any two masses are placed near each other, they will be attracted to each other by a force of gravity.
• Day and Night


  We experience night and day because Earth rotates on its own axis. At any one time only half of Earth is facing the sun. While one half of the planet is in daylight the other half is in darkness.
• 1 rotation of the Earth around the sun gives us a year
• The importance of the .25 in 365.25 days is that it gives us a leap year
• When the Earth is closest to the sun


  It is January
• When the Earth is furthest from the sun


  It is July
• The Earth is actually closest to the sun in January & furthest in July
• Why it is cold in Ireland in January & warm in July

  The Earth's axis is tilted
• Seasons


  Earth has seasons because its axis is tilted. As Earth orbits the sun the tilt does not change. During our summer in Ireland the earth is positioned so that the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun.
• Month


  One rotation of the Moon around the Earth, approx 28 days
• Phases of the Moon

  • New Moon
  • First Quarter
  • Full Moon
  • Third Quarter
• Eclipse


  To obscure
• Types of Eclipse


  • Lunar eclipse
  • Solar eclipse
• Lunar Eclipse


  Happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon. This happens only during a full Moon and only if the Moon passes part of the Earth's shadow.
• Solar Eclipse


  Occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth. This can only happen during a new Moon and only if the Earth passes through the shadow of the Moon.
• Lunar eclipses are not as rare as solar eclipses - they occur every 27 days
• Solar eclipses occur twice a year, however only visible in specific part of Earth due to its tilt