Earth's Motions
& Moon
Revolution, or orbit, means travel around.
The Solar System is the Sun and everything that orbits around it. This includes planets, moons, asteroids, meteoroids, comets, and dwarf planets.
Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun.
A planet's year is determined by the length of time it takes to make one revolution around the Sun. Earth's year is 365 & 1/4 days long.
The Earth’s axis stays fixed in space as it orbits the Sun.
Wikipedia user Tfr000
Rotation means spin around a fixed point called an axis.
The prime meridian is the imaginary line that runs from the north to the south. It divides Earth into two sections called the Eastern and Western hemispheres.
The United States is in the Western Hemisphere.
Earth spins counterclockwise on its axis as it orbits the Sun.
Earth rotates (spins) on its axis once every twenty-four hours. When the Western hemisphere is facing the Sun, the United States has day. When the Eastern hemisphere is facing the Sun, the United States has night.
Earth tilts on its axis as it orbits the Sun.
The equator is an imaginary line dividing Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It is located halfway between the North and South poles.
The Northern Hemisphere is above the equator, and the Southern Hemisphere is below it. The United States is in the Northern Hemisphere.
Revolution + Tilt gives Earth its Seasons.
When the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the Sun, it is summer there because it receives more direct light rays.
When the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun, it is winter there because it receives less direct light rays.
During Fall and Spring, the Sun's rays are not as concentrated as they are during Summer but are more concentrated than they are during Winter. Therefore, during Fall and Spring we experience temperatures that are cooler than during Summer but are warmer than during Winter.