What can we learn about the movement of objects in the sky by observing them?

Targets

At the end of this Unit you should be able to answer the following questions 

1. What does studying the sky teach us about the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars?<

1.1 How can we learn about objects in the sky?

1.2 What patterns can be seen in the stars (constellations)?

1.3 What can we learn about the movement of objects in the sky by observing them?

targets

How does our sky change each day? Each month? Each season?

As we stand on Earth’s surface, we experience alternating periods of light and darkness (day and night).

By observing the movement of objects in the sky, we have learned how the Earth is positioned relative to the Sun, Moon, and other stars.  

We use these movements to track the passage of time and think of time as hours, days, months, seasons, and years.

We know two major movements of the Earth explain what we see in the sky, rotation and orbit.

Rotation

The Earth turns on its axis, similar to a basketball spinning on the tip of your finger. One complete rotation takes twenty-four hours.
This rotation explains the occurrence of day and night.
Sunrise and day occur when our part of Earth is turned to face the Sun.
Sunset and night occur when our part of Earth is turned to face away from the Sun.

 
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