Earth Science II Astronomy · Celestial Motion and Patterns
Virginia SOL AS.5
Virginia SOL AS.5 is part of the Celestial Motion and Patterns strand in Earth Science II Astronomy (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students investigate and understand the predictable and observable patterns produced by celestial objects in the Solar System. Below is what AS.5 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice AS.5 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL AS.5 means
Investigate and understand the predictable and observable patterns produced by celestial objects in the Solar System.
Skills you’ll practice for AS.5
- Explain the effects of the relative positions of Earth, moon, and sun.
- Predict the path of the moon, sun, stars, and constellations as they move across the sky daily and seasonally based on various locations, times, and dates.
- Compare the strengths and limitations of astronomical coordinate systems (horizontal system, ecliptic system, equatorial system, and galactic coordinate system).
- Locate and identify celestial objects using coordinate systems.
- Develop and use a model to explain sidereal, solar, and synodic time and predict the effects on daily changes in the rise time, set time, and transit of stars.
- Develop and use a model to explain retrograde motion of planets.
Key concepts covered by AS.5
- Earth-moon-sun positions
- celestial effects
- tidal forces
- eclipses
- celestial path prediction
- daily motion
- seasonal motion
- star paths
- constellation paths
- coordinate systems
- horizontal system
- ecliptic system
- equatorial system
- galactic coordinate system
- system comparison
- celestial object location
- object identification
- sidereal time
- solar time
- synodic time
- star rise time
- star set time
- star transit
- retrograde motion
- planetary motion
- celestial model
How to study and practice SOL AS.5
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether AS.5 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
Frequently asked questions about SOL AS.5
What is Virginia SOL AS.5?
SOL AS.5 is a Earth Science II Astronomy Standard of Learning in the Celestial Motion and Patterns strand. It expects students to investigate and understand the predictable and observable patterns produced by celestial objects in the Solar System.
What skills does SOL AS.5 cover?
SOL AS.5 is assessed on 6 skills: explain the effects of the relative positions of Earth, moon, and sun; predict the path of the moon, sun, stars, and constellations as they move across the sky daily and seasonally based on various locations, times, and dates; compare the strengths and limitations of astronomical coordinate systems (horizontal system, ecliptic system, equatorial system, and galactic coordinate system); locate and identify celestial objects using coordinate systems; develop and use a model to explain sidereal, solar, and synodic time and predict the effects on daily changes in the rise time, set time, and transit of stars; develop and use a model to explain retrograde motion of planets.
What strand of Earth Science II Astronomy is SOL AS.5 in?
SOL AS.5 belongs to the Celestial Motion and Patterns reporting strand of the Earth Science II Astronomy Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL AS.5?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether AS.5 is already solid, then work the 6 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.