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Howers
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I had no idea it took a month for the moon to orbit the earth. I thought it happened daily, and that's what gave us night. How do we get night?
The moon's orbit around the Earth takes approximately 27.3 days, which is why we often refer to it as a "month". This is known as its sidereal period, which is the time it takes for the moon to return to the same position relative to the stars.
Although the moon's orbit around the Earth is often described as a circle, it is actually slightly elliptical in shape. This is due to the gravitational pull of the Earth and the sun, which causes the moon's orbit to shift slightly over time.
The phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of the moon, Earth, and sun. As the moon orbits the Earth, the sun's light hits different parts of the moon's surface, creating the various phases we see from Earth.
No, the moon's orbit around the Earth is not perfectly synchronized with its rotation. This is why we always see the same side of the moon facing Earth. This phenomenon is known as synchronous rotation.
Yes, the moon's orbit around the Earth plays a crucial role in creating the tides. As the moon's gravity pulls on the Earth, it causes the oceans to bulge, creating high and low tides. The moon's position in its orbit also affects the height and timing of the tides.