the moon’s motion in the sky (notes). the moon rotates on an axis (it spins like a top) the moon...
TRANSCRIPT
The Moon rotates on an axis(it spins like a top)
• The Moon has a very slow rotation, about 28 days. (Our rotation is 24 hours)
• The Moon also orbits the Earth. It takes 28 days to orbit the Earth.
• The Moon’s very slow rotation, along with its orbit around the Earth, means that we only see one side of the Moon—EVER!
• The only way we have seen the back side of the Moon is when we have sent a space probe or when we have gone to the Moon.
Let’s watch a video on that…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZIB_leg75Q
So…we see Moon phases• We see different lit-up areas of the Moon,
based on where the Moon is around us and how the Sun is shining on it.
• Please see Figure 28.18 and 28.19 on pages 762 and 763.
• I *WILL* have a question or two over that on the test, so you should learn these.
• In just a couple of minutes, we will do a lab that will help us see these moon phases.
• But first….
Let’s talk about Eclipses, while we are at it…
• Eclipses are when either the Moon falls into the Earth’s shadow (Lunar Eclipse) or when the Earth falls into the Moon’s shadow (Solar Eclipse).
• I think the picture on page 765 is VERY confusing, so look at these two pictures on the next two slides.
Things you need to know about Eclipses…
• Eclipses do NOT happen every month, because the Moon’s orbital path around Earth is tilted a little over 5 degrees from our path around the Sun (called the Ecliptic).
Things to know…continued.
• Only every once in a while does everything line up perfectly so that we have a Solar or Lunar Eclipse.
• Nasa.gov has a listing of when every eclipse is, if you are interested in seeing when the next one is.
• So…solar and lunar eclipses and Moon phases…our Moon is pretty amazing!