Sun, Earth, and Moon Systems

Conditions on Earth are affected by the two celestial bodies in the Solar System that have a gravitational relationship with this planet - the Sun and the Moon. The Earth revolves around the Sun every 365 days because the Sun is so incredibly massive that even from 93 million miles away, its gravity keeps Earth in its orbit. Earth's Moon is nowhere near the mass of the Sun, but it is close enough to Earth to be held in its orbit. Even though Earth is the more massive object, the Moon has enough of a gravitational effect on Earth to influence its tides. In this topic, you will discover the relationships between the Sun, Earth, and Moon and the different ways these relationships affect conditions on Earth. It is due to the precise size, mass, location, and orientation of all three of these celestial bodies, that allow Earth to experience day and night, seasons, tides, and eclipses.

Essential Questions

• What are the differences between tilt, rotation, and revolution?
• What alignments of the Earth, Sun, and Moon cause solar and lunar eclipses?