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Astronomy Exam 3
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Summer Solstice | Longest day of the year, June 21 |
| Equinox (Spring/Fall) | when day and night are the same length (12 hours) |
| Winter Solstice | Shortest day of the year (December 21) |
| Seasons are caused by | the tilt of the earth's axis & the revolution around the sun |
| solar eclipse | Occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and casts a shadow over part of Earth |
| lunar eclipse | an eclipse in which the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth's shadow. |
| spring tide | When the tidal range is greatest- extra high and extra low tides. (full moon and new moon) |
| neap tide | A less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon |
| Moon phases cycle | 29.5 day cycle from new moon back to new moon |
| Earth's axial tilt | earth is tilted in space by about 23.5 degrees |