sun-earth-moon relationships
DESCRIPTION
Sun-Earth-Moon Relationships. Journey into Space Journey Museum, July 18-20, 2012 Modified from Rick Varner, AESP Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD. Early Scientists ’ Work. Aristarchus of Samos. Too Far Away For a Ruler!. How Far Away is the Moon?. ~ 384,000 km. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Sun-Earth-Moon Relationships
Journey into SpaceJourney Museum, July 18-20, 2012
Modified fromModified fromRick Varner, AESPRick Varner, AESP
Goddard Space Flight CenterGoddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, MDGreenbelt, MD
Aristarchus of Samos
Early Scientists’ Work
How Far Away is the Moon?
~ 384,000 km
Too Far Away For a Ruler!Too Far Away For a Ruler!
Average Distance 384,400 km (~240,000 mi)
Let’s use a distance that we already know to develop our model!
384,000 km
Earth’s diameter = 12,756 km (rounded 13,000 km)
Moon’s diameter = 3,475 km (slightly more than ¼ the of Earth)
13,000 km=30 (29.54)
Mathematics
Mathematics
~13,000 km~13,000 km
The Moon is approximately one fourth the diameter of the Earth. 1” and ¼” craft beads can be used to
simulate the Earth & Moon.
Clipped to a yard stick 30” apart creates a mobile model that can used for both distance
and eclipse simulations. Since this is a rounded measurement, the actual distance is from
bead surface to bead surface.
The Model
Earth to Moon Scale Modeling Variations:
Age/Developmentally Appropriate Audiences
Pre-existing Models: Replogle Small Lunar Globe
12” Earth Globe
Athletic Balls: Basket Ball & Tennis/Baseball Ball
Painting, Drawing, Clay, Play-Dough, etc…
Balloons: Blue Round - Earth
White Round - Moon, Red Balloon?
Mathematical Models: using only numerical measurements
Diameter Approximate Scale Models
Earth Moon
12,756 km 3,476 km
~24 cm 6.9 cm
The Phases of the Moon
Moon Phase Modeling• Ping Pong Ball• Hot Glue• Long Golf TeeGlue the ping pong ball to the golf tee with the
company logo covered by the top of the golf tee.If the moon is visible, hold the ball at arm’s length
below the moon and compare.Rotate counterclockwise to simulate lunar phases
Protect eyes from direct viewing of the sunProtect eyes from direct viewing of the sun.
Ping Pong Ball Lunar Model
12 p.m. Noon
12 a.m Midnight
6 a.m.9 a.m.
6 p.m.
9 p.m.
3 a.m.
3 p.m.
The Sun is VERY far
away!
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1
2
2 3
34
4 5
5
6
6 7
7
8
8
Plate Activity
6/2/1211:49pm
95%
6/8/124:48am
77%6/16/1210:49am
8%
6/4/1212:52am
6/11/126:42am
50%
6/19/1211:03am
6/20/122:04pm
1%
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php
Antonio Cidadao: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/images_aa/Moon_movie.gif
EclipsesThe Model
1. Use the sidewalk or a flat surface to align the shadows.
2. Look at the shadows on the background, then look at the beads.
Sun • Moon • Earth = Solar EclipseSun • Earth • Moon = Lunar Eclipse
SolarSolar Eclipse viewed from Mir Eclipse viewed from Mir http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap990830.htmlhttp://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap990830.html
August 11, 1999
May 20, 2012 Terra SpacecraftMay 20, 2012 Terra Spacecraft
December 20, 2010Lunar Eclipse
Connecting the Lunar Phases to the Solar & Lunar Eclipse
Sky & Telescope Article on 2010 Eclipses:http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/eclipses/80386602.html
http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/SEprimer.html
http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/SEprimer.html
Aug 21, 2017Next total solar eclipse…visible in the U.S. from SC to OR