The Earth and the solar system

Abstract

After reading this chapter you should

• be able to describe the Solar system

• understand the motions of the Earth and the planets

• understand seasonal changes

• understand the changes in the appearance of the Moon

• understand eclipses of the Sun and Moon

• understand that the Moon effects the tides on Earth

• understand that conditions on the surfaces of other planets differ from those on Earth

• understand that some comets orbit the Sun in long, thin, elliptical orbits.