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Astronomy Year / Week 07 / Monday
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Week 07 · Seasons in the Sky

Monday

Earth travels around the Sun
// New stars and new sunsets
⏱ about 15 min

Monday: Earth travels around the Sun

Rocket looks up on a winter night. "Where did the summer stars go?"

Raven checks her log. "What do you notice? The sky looks different now."

Nova circles a lamp. "Hint: Earth takes a long trip every year."

A trip around the Sun

Earth travels around the Sun.

This path is called an orbit.

One trip takes 365 days, about one year.

A new view at night

At night, we look out into space away from the Sun.

As Earth moves, that view changes.

So we see different stars in different seasons.

ORBIT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
How long does one trip around the Sun take?
Why do we see different stars in different seasons?
Try it
Put a chair in the middle of the room. That is the Sun.
Walk slowly in a circle around it.
Always face away from the chair. That is your night view.
Notice how you see different walls as you walk!
Safety first
Clear the floor before you walk.
Walk slowly.
Orbit factTrue or false?
Earth travels around the Sun.?
One orbit takes one day.?
Our night view changes during the year.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEThe orbit is why star pictures come and go.

Spin and orbit

MotionWhat happensHow long
SpinDay and nightAbout 24 hours
OrbitA trip around the Sun365 days, about one year

Earth does both at the same time.

It spins while it travels around the Sun.

SPIN OR ORBIT?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Day turns into night. Is that from the spin or the orbit?
Summer stars change to winter stars. Spin or orbit?
How many days does one orbit take?
In the Try it, what was the chair?
A YEAR OF NIGHT SKIES
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
1First
2Next
3Then
4Last
Draw Earth on its path around the Sun. Add an arrow.

Great walking! Tomorrow we meet the stars of each season.