Is There Life Out There? Our Solar System (and beyond)

Warm-UpWhy do we have seasons?

Times Up!Sky Time ReviewWhy do we have seasons?Because the Earth spins on a tilted axis. The part tilting toward the sun gets more direct sunlight = summer.When is summer in Australia? Why?During our winter they are tilted toward when we are tilted awayWhat shape do stars trace in the sky? Why?In a circle, because they appear to move around the North Star (Polaris)

Why do the Sun, Moon, and Stars appear to rise from the East and set in the West?The Earth rotates counter clockwise (to the east)Why is the sun higher in the sky in the summer than it is in the winter?Because the Earth spins on a tilted axis, so our perspective on the sun changes.Why are the days longer in the summer than the winter?Because the Earth spins on a tilted axis, so the sun takes longer to get through the sky during the summer. Why cant we see the constellation Sagittarius all year?The Sun blocks our view of it for part of the year.What stars can we see all year?The stars in the Northern sky (surrounding Polaris)Will people in China see the same stars tonight as the people in the US?YES! We are both in the northern hemisphere.What are the longest and shortest days of the year called?SolsticesWhat are the days with equal day and night called?Equinoxes