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Earth and Moon Vocab
Science 6th grade
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Axis | the imaginary ,line that passes through Earth's center and the North and South poles |
Rotation | Object spinning on its axis. Causes Earth's Day and night |
Day | lasts for 24 hours. Caused by Earth's rotation so that it is facing the sun during the day and facing away at night. |
Revolution | the movement of one object around the sun causes a year. |
Year | lasts for 365 1/4 days and is caused by the Earth's revolution around the Sun. |
Orbit | Earth's path is it revolves around the sun |
Latitude | a measurement of distance from the equator--expressed in degrees north or south of the equator |
Season | caused by the Earth's tilt and the changing position around the Sun. |
Equinox | halfway between the Solstice days. The start of tjhe "in between seasons" (not too hot, not too cold). Means "equal night." |
Solstice | the two days each year when the noon sun is at either 23.5 degrees south or north. The axis is tilted directly toward or away from the sun. |
Vernal Equinox | the first day of spring. Around March 21st. |
Autumnal Equinox | the first day of fall. Around September 23rd |
Summer Solstice | The north end of the axis is tilted directly TOWARD the sun. The first day of summer Around June 21st. LONGEST day of the year |
Winter Solstice | The north end of the axis is tilted directly AWAY from the sun, the first day of winter. Around December 21st. SHORTEST day of the year. |
Ellipse | A flattened, oval shape. This is the shape of the Earth's orbit. |
Total Solar Eclipse | only visible when you are in the UMBRA part of the shadow. The entire sun will seem to disappear. |
Partial Solar Eclipse | Visible when you are in the PENUMBRA part of the shadow. Part of sun's light will disappear |
Lunar Phase | the different shapes of the moon that depend on hos much of the sunlight side of the Moon is facing Earth |
Crescent Phases | only a tiny amount of light is showing (a small crease) |
Quarter Phases | when you see "half" of the circle (but really it is 1/4 of the moon |
Gibbous Phases | when the Moon is almost full. Right before or after the full moon phase. hint: give us more moon |
Solar Eclipse | when the moon passes directly betweem the Earth and the Sun, blocking the sunlight from reaching Earth. |
Eclipse | when an object in space comes between the Sun and a third object, and casts a shadow on that object. |
Lunar Eclipse | When the Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun. |
Umbra | darkest part of the shadow- this is where the sun is totally blocked |
Penumbra | lighter part of the shadow- only part of the sun's rays are blocked |