VIEWING THE NIGHT SKY

WHAT IS A SATELLITE?

A satellite is a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star. Moons are considered natural satellites, as well as smaller Solar System bodies (asteroids). The Moon is the Earth's one natural satellite, while the Earth is the Sun's natural satellite. Artifical satellites are satellites that are manmade.

THE MOON"S PHASES

NEW MOON

WAXING CRESCENT

FIRST QUARTER

WAXING GIBBOUS

FULL MOON

WANING GIBBOUS

THIRD QUARTER

WANING CRESCENT

WHY DO THE MOON'S PHASES OCCUR?

The Moon does not produce its own light. There is only one source of light in our solar system, and that is the Sun. Without the Sun, our Moon would be completely dark. Only one side of the moon faces us, because of something called tidal locking. The Sun’s light comes from one direction, and so lights up, one half of the Moon – the side of the Moon that is facing the Sun.

TOOLS TO VIEW THE NIGHT SKY

TELESCOPES

Telescopes are used for Viewing faraway planets, stars, galaxies, or other objects we can not see using the bare eye. The Gran Telescopio Canarias is by far the largest telescope on earth and measures 34 feet across.

PLANISPHERES

A planisphere is an instrument to assist in learning how to recognize stars and constellations. They work similarly to star charts.

BINOCULARS

While binoculars are powerful enough to clearly see the surface of the Moon's surface, they are less powerful than telescopes.

WANT TO PRACTICE OR LEARN MORE?

Youtube:

Moon Phases: Crash Course Astronomy #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ5vty8f9Xc

Telescopes: Crash Course Astronomy #6:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYhy7eaazIk

Kahoot:

https://play.kahoot.it/v2/?quizId=8e355a01-70b2-4c04-a0d8-2c15b1ad515b

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