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Aim
Pupils should know that the Earth's movement and rotation causes the apparent movement of the Sun and Moon; that rockets and satellites are used for space observation and exploration. (Nat Curr KS3 - Physical Processes 4 - The Earth and Beyond)
Introduction
This project is aimed at pupils working early in KS3. Astronomers now have detailed knowledge of the Earth's immediate environment thanks to modern rocketry and the numerous satellites, space probes and manned space flights undertaken in recent decades.
This project aims to introduce pupils to the ideas of the Earth's orbit around the Sun, the Moon and its exploration and satellite orbits. Pupils should use the Internet to acquire some information and use the Robotic Telescope to obtain images of the Moon.
Lesson
The Earth is in an orbit that is nearly circular around the Sun. The Earth also spins on its own axis. The Earth is only one of nine planets that orbit the Sun, and the Sun is only one star towards the edge of the Milky Way galaxy.
The consequence of the Earth's spinning on its N-S axis is that the Sun and other stars seem to move across the sky every 24 hours. The consequence of the Earth's rotation about the Sun is the SEASONS.
Satellites in orbit around the Earth include only one natural satellite, the moon and hundreds of artificial satellites put there for a variety of purposes.
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