Earth Sun Moon Positions - Middle School Earth and Space Science
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Identify the phase name for a Moon that is less than half lit and decreasing in illumination.
Identify the phase name for a Moon that is less than half lit and decreasing in illumination.
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Waning crescent. Between third quarter and new moon, less than half lit and shrinking.
Waning crescent. Between third quarter and new moon, less than half lit and shrinking.
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What object orbits Earth in the Earth–Sun–Moon system model?
What object orbits Earth in the Earth–Sun–Moon system model?
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The Moon orbits Earth. The Moon is Earth's natural satellite, held by Earth's gravity.
The Moon orbits Earth. The Moon is Earth's natural satellite, held by Earth's gravity.
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What object is at the center of the solar system model used to show Earth and Moon motion?
What object is at the center of the solar system model used to show Earth and Moon motion?
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The Sun. The Sun's gravity holds all planets and moons in orbit around it.
The Sun. The Sun's gravity holds all planets and moons in orbit around it.
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What is the correct order of objects in the Earth–Moon system from largest to smallest size?
What is the correct order of objects in the Earth–Moon system from largest to smallest size?
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Sun, Earth, Moon. The Sun is about 109x Earth's diameter, Earth is about 4x the Moon's diameter.
Sun, Earth, Moon. The Sun is about 109x Earth's diameter, Earth is about 4x the Moon's diameter.
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What is the correct order of objects from greatest to least distance from Earth in the Earth–Moon–Sun system?
What is the correct order of objects from greatest to least distance from Earth in the Earth–Moon–Sun system?
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Sun (farthest), Moon (closest). The Sun is ~150 million km away, while the Moon is only ~384,000 km from Earth.
Sun (farthest), Moon (closest). The Sun is ~150 million km away, while the Moon is only ~384,000 km from Earth.
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Identify the correct statement about scale in most Sun–Earth–Moon classroom diagrams.
Identify the correct statement about scale in most Sun–Earth–Moon classroom diagrams.
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Sizes and distances are usually not to scale. True scale would make objects too tiny or distances too vast for classrooms.
Sizes and distances are usually not to scale. True scale would make objects too tiny or distances too vast for classrooms.
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What is the cause of day and night in an Earth–Sun model?
What is the cause of day and night in an Earth–Sun model?
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Earth rotates on its axis. One rotation takes 24 hours, creating the day-night cycle.
Earth rotates on its axis. One rotation takes 24 hours, creating the day-night cycle.
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Which object does the Moon orbit in a Sun–Earth–Moon model?
Which object does the Moon orbit in a Sun–Earth–Moon model?
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Earth. The Moon completes one orbit around Earth every 27.3 days.
Earth. The Moon completes one orbit around Earth every 27.3 days.
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Which object does Earth orbit in a Sun–Earth–Moon model?
Which object does Earth orbit in a Sun–Earth–Moon model?
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The Sun. Earth completes one orbit around the Sun in 365.25 days.
The Sun. Earth completes one orbit around the Sun in 365.25 days.
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What must be included in a model to correctly show why the Moon has phases?
What must be included in a model to correctly show why the Moon has phases?
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Sunlight direction and Moon orbit around Earth. Phases result from changing angles between Sun, Earth, and Moon positions.
Sunlight direction and Moon orbit around Earth. Phases result from changing angles between Sun, Earth, and Moon positions.
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Which Moon phase occurs when the Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun?
Which Moon phase occurs when the Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun?
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New Moon. The Moon's sunlit side faces away from Earth at this position.
New Moon. The Moon's sunlit side faces away from Earth at this position.
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Which Moon phase occurs when Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon?
Which Moon phase occurs when Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon?
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Full Moon. The Moon's sunlit side fully faces Earth at this position.
Full Moon. The Moon's sunlit side fully faces Earth at this position.
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Which Moon phase occurs when the Moon is $90^\circ$ from the Sun as seen from Earth and is half lit?
Which Moon phase occurs when the Moon is $90^\circ$ from the Sun as seen from Earth and is half lit?
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First quarter or third quarter. At $90°$, we see exactly half of the Moon's sunlit side.
First quarter or third quarter. At $90°$, we see exactly half of the Moon's sunlit side.
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Identify the alignment required for a solar eclipse in a Sun–Earth–Moon model.
Identify the alignment required for a solar eclipse in a Sun–Earth–Moon model.
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Sun–Moon–Earth alignment. The Moon's shadow falls on Earth when aligned in this order.
Sun–Moon–Earth alignment. The Moon's shadow falls on Earth when aligned in this order.
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Identify the alignment required for a lunar eclipse in a Sun–Earth–Moon model.
Identify the alignment required for a lunar eclipse in a Sun–Earth–Moon model.
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Sun–Earth–Moon alignment. Earth's shadow falls on the Moon when aligned in this order.
Sun–Earth–Moon alignment. Earth's shadow falls on the Moon when aligned in this order.
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Which phase must the Moon be in for a lunar eclipse to be possible?
Which phase must the Moon be in for a lunar eclipse to be possible?
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Full Moon. Only at full Moon is Earth between the Sun and Moon.
Full Moon. Only at full Moon is Earth between the Sun and Moon.
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Which part of the Moon is always illuminated by the Sun in a Sun–Earth–Moon model?
Which part of the Moon is always illuminated by the Sun in a Sun–Earth–Moon model?
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One half of the Moon (the sunlit half). The Sun always illuminates the half facing it.
One half of the Moon (the sunlit half). The Sun always illuminates the half facing it.
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Identify the correct statement about why eclipses do not happen every new and full Moon.
Identify the correct statement about why eclipses do not happen every new and full Moon.
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The Moon’s orbit is tilted relative to Earth’s orbit. The 5° tilt prevents perfect alignment most months.
The Moon’s orbit is tilted relative to Earth’s orbit. The 5° tilt prevents perfect alignment most months.
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Which model change best fixes a diagram that shows frequent eclipses every month?
Which model change best fixes a diagram that shows frequent eclipses every month?
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Add the Moon’s orbital tilt so it usually misses the shadow. The 5° tilt means the Moon usually passes above or below Earth's shadow.
Add the Moon’s orbital tilt so it usually misses the shadow. The 5° tilt means the Moon usually passes above or below Earth's shadow.
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Identify the correct position of the Moon for a first quarter phase in a top-down Sun–Earth–Moon model.
Identify the correct position of the Moon for a first quarter phase in a top-down Sun–Earth–Moon model.
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Moon is $90^\circ$ ahead of the Earth–Sun line. First quarter occurs when the Moon has moved 1/4 of its orbit from new Moon.
Moon is $90^\circ$ ahead of the Earth–Sun line. First quarter occurs when the Moon has moved 1/4 of its orbit from new Moon.
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Which phase must the Moon be in for a solar eclipse to be possible?
Which phase must the Moon be in for a solar eclipse to be possible?
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New Moon. Only at new Moon is the Moon between Earth and Sun.
New Moon. Only at new Moon is the Moon between Earth and Sun.
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Which alignment produces a solar eclipse: Sun–Moon–Earth or Sun–Earth–Moon?
Which alignment produces a solar eclipse: Sun–Moon–Earth or Sun–Earth–Moon?
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Sun–Moon–Earth. Moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth when positioned between them.
Sun–Moon–Earth. Moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth when positioned between them.
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What object orbits the Sun in the Earth–Sun–Moon system model?
What object orbits the Sun in the Earth–Sun–Moon system model?
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Earth orbits the Sun. Earth is a planet that revolves around the Sun due to gravitational attraction.
Earth orbits the Sun. Earth is a planet that revolves around the Sun due to gravitational attraction.
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Which alignment produces a lunar eclipse: Sun–Moon–Earth or Sun–Earth–Moon?
Which alignment produces a lunar eclipse: Sun–Moon–Earth or Sun–Earth–Moon?
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Sun–Earth–Moon. Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon in this alignment.
Sun–Earth–Moon. Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon in this alignment.
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What Moon phase occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun (same direction as the Sun)?
What Moon phase occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun (same direction as the Sun)?
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New moon. Moon's unlit side faces Earth when aligned with the Sun.
New moon. Moon's unlit side faces Earth when aligned with the Sun.
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