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The Moon’s Motion in the Sky. (notes). 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.
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The Moon’s Motion in the Sky (notes)
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!