Chapter 7: Earth in Space

Earth’s Motion
1. Earth’s shape is nearly spherical.
2. Earth’s motions include rotation around its
axis and revolution around the Sun.
3. Earth’s rotation causes day and night. Its tilt
and revolution cause the seasons.
Earth’s Moon
1. Surface features on the Moon include maria,
craters, and lunar highlands.
2. The Moon rotates once and revolves around
Earth once in 27.3 days.
3. Phases of Earth’s Moon, solar eclipses, and
lunar eclipses are caused by the Moon’s
revolution around Earth.
4. One hypothesis concerning the origin of
Earth’s Moon is that a Mars-sized body collided
with Earth, throwing off material that
later condensed to form the Moon.
Our Solar System
1. The solar system includes the Sun, planets,
moons, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
2. Planets can be classified as inner or outer.
3. Inner planets are small and rocky with thin
atmospheres (or none). Outer planets are
generally large and gaseous with thick
atmospheres.
4. One hypothesis on the origin of the solar
system states that it condensed from a large
cloud of gas, ice, and dust.
Copy and complete the following concept map to complete the moon phase cycle.
Waxing
gibbous
Third
quarter
green.msscience.com/interactive_tutor
Waxing
crescent
New
Moon
CHAPTER STUDY GUIDE 205
Lick Observatory