EAR - Earth OVERVIEW
Earth
Introduction
You all are coming along in your Astronaut Training Program. In this module, you will learn about characteristics of Earth as it relates to space. Knowing how Earth orbits and rotates is essential for astronomical observations and future space travel.
Essential Questions
- What effect does the Earth's orbit and rotation have on climate?
- How does Earth's orbit and rotation affect astronomical observations such as constellations and other planets?
Key Terms
A.M. - anti meridian; before the Sun is in a position directly overhead
Asterism - unofficial constellations
Celestial Sphere - an imaginary sphere with the Earth at its center on which the stars appear to be located
Constellation - one of 88 groups of stars that have been given a name and a design
Day - the time required for the Earth to complete one revolution around its axis
Declination - angular distance north or south from the equatorial plane of the Earth measured toward the poles
Diurnal Cycle - a rhythmic pattern based on a 24 hour period
Equinox - the two days when the Sun crosses the celestial plane; when day and night are about equal in length
P.M. - post meridian; after the Sun is in a position directly overhead
Prime Meridian - zero degrees of latitude, described as a line from the north pole to the south pole that passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England
Right Ascension - the celestial equivalent of longitude; the angular distance of a point celestial sphere, measured east
Sidereal Day - the time required for one complete rotation of the Earth in reference to a star, 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.09 seconds
Solstice - one of two times of the year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator
Time Zone - any of 24 longitudinal divisions of the Earth in which a standard time is kept
Year - the time required for the earth to complete one revolution around the Sun
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