MOVEMENT OF OBJECTS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Laws of Planetary Motion govern how objects in the solar system move.
1) all planets orbit elliptically around the sun
2) in this eliptical orbit a planet will sweep over equal areas in equal times
3) the square of the time a planet takes for one complete revolution around the Sun is proportional to the cube of the planet's distance from the Sun


Lunar Eclipse: This occurs when the earth, the sun, and the moon line up in such a way that the moon is in the earth's shadow.

Solar Eclipse: Occurs when the moon completely blocks the sun and day looks like night. Sometimes it is so dark that stars can be seen. Usually during a solar eclipse, the sun can be seen (with appropriate protection) around the darkened moon.


Phases of the moon
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/java/MoonPhase.html

http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html

Seasons
When the Northern Hemisphere is pointing toward the sun, it received strong, direct sun rays. Therefore, the Northern Hemisphere heats up and experiences......GUESS WHICH SEASON? (Click once you have an idea.)




















SUMMER!

AND while the Northern Hemisphere experiences these direct sun rays during the summer months, the Sourthern Hemsphere is tilted away from the sun, receives indirect sun rays and the season winter.


The earth is also heated unevenly because of day and night and because the sun heats land and water at a different rate. During the day, the sun heats up the land faster than the water. However, during the night, the land cools off more quickly than the water which can hold its heat longer...REMEMBER THE PROPERTIES OF WATER!!!

The earth is heated unevenly because of the colors on the earth. The North and South poles recieve indirect light and much of the energy from the sun is reflected off the white snow. The land cannot get very warm. Land that is dark on the other hand, absorbs more heat energy retaining the heat from the sun.