Earth and Space Science: Space and Solar System
What this domain tests
Know the order of the planets from the Sun and that the Sun is a star at the center of our solar system. Understand that planets orbit the Sun and that moons orbit planets. Know that Earth's rotation on its axis causes day and night, while its revolution around the Sun, combined with a tilted axis, causes the seasons.
Patterns in the sky
Understand that the Moon's phases result from the changing angle between the Sun, Earth, and Moon as the Moon orbits Earth, and that the Moon does not make its own light. Know that the Sun appears to move across the sky because Earth rotates, and that stars appear to shift with the seasons. Know that gravity keeps planets in orbit.
Traps to watch for
Questions often say Earth is closer to the Sun in summer, which is not the cause of seasons. Another trap is explaining moon phases as Earth's shadow, which describes an eclipse instead. Watch for answers that say the Sun orbits Earth or that the Moon produces light.
Rule of thumb
Match the motion to the pattern: rotation gives day and night, revolution plus tilt gives seasons, and the Moon's orbit gives phases. For example, a full Moon occurs when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, so the lit side faces Earth.