Earth-Moon-Sun System (Chapter 23)
Chapter 23 of the Earth Sciences textbook
Terms
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- Sphere
- A round, three-dimensional object whose surface is the same distance from its center at all points; Earth is a sphere that bulges somewhat at the equator and is slightly flattened at the poles.
- Full moon
- Phase that occurs when all of the Moon's surface facing the Earth reflects light.
- Moon phase
- Change in appearance of the Moon as viewed from the Earth , due to the relative positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun.
- Orbit
- The path taken by an object revolving around another.
- Equinox
- Twice-yearly time-- each spring and fall-- when the Sun is directly over the equator and the number of daylight and nighttime hours are equal worldwide.
- Rotation
- Spinning of Earth on its imaginary axis, which takes about 24 hours to complete and causes day and night to occur.
- Impact basin
- A hollow left on the surface of the moon caused by an object striking its surface.
- Maria
- Dark-colored, relatively flat regions of the Moon formed when ancient lava reached the surface and filled craters on the Moon's surface.
- Lunar eclipse
- Occurs when Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
- Waxing
- Describes phases following a new moon, as more of the Moon's lighted sides becomes visible.
- Solar eclipse
- Occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and casts a shadow over part of Earth.
- Solstice
- Twice-yearly point at which the Sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator.
- Axis
- Imaginary vertical line that cuts through the center of Earth and around which Earth spins.
- Revolution
- Earth's yearlong elliptical orbit around the Sun.
- Waning
- Describes phases that occur after a full moon, as the visible lighted side of the Moon grows smaller.
- Ellipse
- Elongated, closed curve that describes Earth's yearlong orbit around the Sun.
- New moon
- Moon phase that occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, at which point the Moon cannot be seen because its lighted half is facing the Sun and its dark side faces Earth.