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The Sun Earth Moon
Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| rotation | the spin of an object around its axis |
| rotation axis | the line on which an object rotates |
| orbit | the path an object follows as it moves around another object |
| revolution | the orbit of one object around another object |
| solstice | when Earth's rotation axis is tilted directly toward or away from the Sun |
| equinox | when Earth's rotation axis is tilted neither toward or away from the Sun |
| phase | the lit part of the Moon or a planet that can be seen from Earth |
| waxing phase | phases of the Moon during with more of the Moon's near side is lit each night |
| waning phase | phases of the Moon during with less of the Moon's near side is lit each night |
| umbra | the central, darker part of a shadow where light is totally blocked |
| penumbra | the lighter part of a shadow where light is partially blocked |
| solar eclipse | an occurrence during which the Moon's shadow appears on Earth's surface |