it takes 29 ½ days – almost 1 month – for the moon to move (revolve) around the earth

It takes 29 ½ days – almost 1 month – for the moon to move (revolve) around the

Earth.

The moon does not make any light of its own. The lighted parts that we see are

called phases.

The moon reflects light from the sun.

As the moon moves

(revolves) around the

Earth, it looks like it

has different shapes. The shape of the moon does not really change. It

just changes its location in space.

Half of the Moon is always lit up by the sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, we see

different parts of the lighted area.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/apollo30th/moontheater/phasepage2.html

Phases of the Moon

Sunlight

Sunlight

(1) New Moon

(2)

Waxing Crescen

t (3) First Quarter

(4) Waxing Gibbous

(5) Full Moon

(6) Waning Gibbous

(7) Third Quarter

(8) Waning

Crescent

Earth

The general locations and

orientations for the phases of

the moon.

Earth spins on its axis in the

same direction as the moon’s

orbit.

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth

(1) New Moon

New moon is when the moon is

between the sun and the

earth

What time of day is it for the

observer?

Noon!!

NEW MOON Wherever the person

looks all they see is shadowed

moon.

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth

(2) Waxing Crescent

Waxing means getting bigger/ Growing

What time of day is it for the

observer?

3PM!!

WAXING CRESCENT

When you look up you see only a small crescent

brightly lit. (Right Side)

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth

(3) First Quarter

The moon is ¼ of the way around the

earth

What time of day is it for the

observer?

Sunset - 6PM!!

FIRST QUARTER When you look up you see one half of the front

face of the Moon brightly lit. (Right side)

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth

(4) Waxing Gibbous

Moon is getting

closer to being a full

moon

What time of day is it for the

observer?

9PM!!

WAXING GIBBOUS When you look up you see only a small crescent, darkly shadowed, on

the left.

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth(5) Full Moon

The earth is between the

sun and moon

What time of day is it for the

observer?

Midnight-12AM!!

FULL MOON When you look up you see the entire face of

the Moon brightly lit.

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth

(6) Waning Gibbous

Waning means getting smaller

What time of day is it for the

observer?

3AM!!

WANING GIBBOUS When you look up you see only a small crescent, darkly shadowed, on

the right.

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth

(7) Third Quarter

The moon is ¾ of the way around the

Earth

THIRD QUARTER When you look up you see one half of the front

face of the Moon brightly lit. (Left side)

What time of day is it for the

observer?

Sunrise - 6AM!!

Perspective & The Moon’s Face

Sunlight

Sunlight

Earth

(8) Wanin

g Cresce

nt

We see this right before a new moon

WANING CRESCENT When you look up you see only a small

crescent brightly lit. (Left

Side)

What time of day is it for the

observer?

9AM!!

Complete this

Moon Phase Moon Rise Time

New Moon Sunrise/6am

Waxing Crescent 9am

First Quarter 12pm

Waxing Gibbous 3pm

Full Moon 6pm

Waning Gibbous 9pm

Third Quarter 12am

Waning Crescent 3am

Say, Sun rises at 6am and sets at 6pm

Now we see a new moon again.

It takes the moon about 1 month (29 ½ days) to go through the phases

Eclipses

• Have you seen eclipses?• What are eclipses in nature?

• One celestial object casts its shadow on the other one

Solar Eclipses

• Sun – the shadow of the moon on the earth

Total solar eclipse in 1999

A – total eclipseB – annular eclipseC – partial eclipse

Lunar Eclipses

• Moon – the shadow of the earth on the moon

Lunar Eclipse

Eclipses Cycle

• Every year there are at least two lunar eclipses• Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses always come

in pairs• Lunar eclipses can be seen everywhere on the

earth, but the solar eclipses may only be seen on part of the earth

What phase is the moon?

What time of day will this moon phase be high in the sky? (meridan)

What time will this moon phase set?

What time will this moon rise?

What phase is the moon?

What time of day will this moon phase be high in the sky? (meridan)

What time will this moon phase set?

What time will this moon rise?