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Keeping Time with the Skies

Where a day came from

Every morning the Sun rises in the east. In the evening it sets in the west. Does the Sun really move round us?

The Earth spins. Here it is sunrise.
Step 1 of 4
  1. The Earth spins. Here it is sunrise.
  2. Later it is noon. This side faces the Sun.
  3. Then sunset.
  4. The far side is midnight. One more turn brings sunrise again.

New word

  • Mean solar day — the average time between two highest Suns.

The rule

No. The Earth spins, so the Sun seems to move. The Earth's axis is the line joining its two Poles.

The Earth spins on its axis. So the Sun seems to rise and set. The time from one highest Sun to the next is a day. It is about 24 hours.

Pick a time of day. See where you are on the Earth.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 Where a day came from
  3. 2 A shadow that tells the time
  4. 3 Where a month came from
  5. 4 Where a year came from
  6. 5 They do not divide
  7. 6 A spare day every few years
  8. 7 Calendars people use
  9. 8 Where to look for the Moon
  10. 9 Satellites above us
  11. 10 Checkpoint: the Moon in the sky and satellites
  12. 11 The big picture
  13. 12 Track quiz

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