Week 6: Earth Sun Moon

1. What did you do in lab today? 

Today in lab, we discussed the phases on the moon, eclipses, the plane of the ecliptic, and what makes seasons. To learn more about it, we used a globe to represent the earth, a styrofoam ball to represent the moon, and a bright light to represent the sun. From this, we were able to find where the moon needed to be to be in different phases. In order for a lunar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and earth must all be aligned together. Seasons were a little harder to represent because we could not physically make them happen. 

2. What was the big question? 

The big question this week was what are your best understandings of how the phases of the moon occur, what causes the seasons, and what causes a lunar eclipse?

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion?

I learned that when the Sun is at it's highest point and the Moon is rising, we view it as a quarter moon. This is because the sun is only shining on part of what we can see. I also learned that in an Equinox, the day and night both occur for 12 hours. This is because the Sun is directly above the equator. 

Pressbook Chapter 5

1. What did you learn?

From the chapter, I learned about the phases of the Moon. The phases are new, crescent, quarter, gibbous, and full. I learned that when the Moon is waxing, we see more and more of the Moon's face. When the Moon is waning, we see less and less of its face. 

2. What was most helpful?

The diagrams of the Moon in relation to the Sun and Earth were most helpful for me. They helped me to understand why we only see parts of the Moon. Seeing where the Moon is lit by the Sun in combination of what the Earth can view helps me to understand that part of the moon is always hidden from us. 

3. What do you need more information on?

I need more information on solar and lunar eclipses. I understand the position that they need to be in for these to occur, but I need more information on why sometimes the orbits line up and sometimes they do not. 

What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have?

I am still confused about how a lunar eclipse occurs. How is the Moon sometimes in line with the Earth and Sun to create an eclipse, but at other times it is just a new or full moon? I understand that it orbits, but how are they in different places with the same orbit?