The moon and it’s phasesThe moon and it’s phases

By: Destiny Edwards and Lilly By: Destiny Edwards and Lilly HattonHatton

Did you know that…..Did you know that….. The moon is the second brightest object in the sky after The moon is the second brightest object in the sky after

the sun.the sun. It takes the moon 27.3 days to make one orbit around It takes the moon 27.3 days to make one orbit around

the Earth. It also takes the Moon 27.3 days to complete the Earth. It also takes the Moon 27.3 days to complete one rotation on its axis. one rotation on its axis.

The moon has a diameter of about 3,476 kilometers.The moon has a diameter of about 3,476 kilometers. The earths moon is the 5The earths moon is the 5thth largest in the whole solar largest in the whole solar

system system Even though the Moon has no liquid water, it does have Even though the Moon has no liquid water, it does have

special "seas" and "land" on its surface. There are also special "seas" and "land" on its surface. There are also many interesting features such as craters, mountain many interesting features such as craters, mountain ranges, and lava plains. The interior of the Moon is made ranges, and lava plains. The interior of the Moon is made up of different layers of rock, some solid and some up of different layers of rock, some solid and some molten like lava. molten like lava.

The phases of the moonThe phases of the moon

In order these are the phases of the moon.In order these are the phases of the moon.1.1. New moonNew moon2.2. Waxing Cresent moonWaxing Cresent moon3.3. Quarter moonQuarter moon4.4. Waxing Gibbous moonWaxing Gibbous moon5.5. Full moonFull moon6.6. Waxing Gibbous moonWaxing Gibbous moon7.7. Last quarter moonLast quarter moon8.8. Waning Crecent moonWaning Crecent moon

New MoonNew Moon

When the moon is roughly in the same When the moon is roughly in the same direction as the sun, its illuminated half is direction as the sun, its illuminated half is facing away from the earth and therefore facing away from the earth and therefore the part that faces us is all dark: we have the part that faces us is all dark: we have the new moon. When in this phase, the the new moon. When in this phase, the moon and the sun rise and set at about moon and the sun rise and set at about the same time.the same time.

Waxing Cresent moonWaxing Cresent moon

As the moon move around the earth, we As the moon move around the earth, we get to see more and more of the get to see more and more of the illuminated half, and we say the moon is illuminated half, and we say the moon is waxing. At first we get a sliver which grows waxing. At first we get a sliver which grows as the day goes by. This phases is called as the day goes by. This phases is called the cresent moon.the cresent moon.

Quarter MoonQuarter Moon

A week after the new moon when the A week after the new moon when the moon has completed about the quarter moon has completed about the quarter turn around the earth, we can see half of turn around the earth, we can see half of the illuminated part; that is, a quarter of the illuminated part; that is, a quarter of the moon. This is the first quarter phase. the moon. This is the first quarter phase.

Waxing Gibbous moonWaxing Gibbous moon

During the next week we keep seeing During the next week we keep seeing more and more of the illuminated part of more and more of the illuminated part of the moon, and it is now called waxing the moon, and it is now called waxing gibbous moon (gibbous means humped) gibbous moon (gibbous means humped)

Full moon Full moon

Two weeks after the new moon, the moon Two weeks after the new moon, the moon is halfway through its revolution and now is halfway through its revolution and now the illuminated side coincides with the one the illuminated side coincides with the one facing the earth, so that we can see a full facing the earth, so that we can see a full disk: we have a full moon. As mentioned disk: we have a full moon. As mentioned above at the time the moon rises at the above at the time the moon rises at the same time the sun sets, and when it sets same time the sun sets, and when it sets the sun rises. If the moon happens to align the sun rises. If the moon happens to align exactly with the earth and sun then we get exactly with the earth and sun then we get a lunar eclipse. a lunar eclipse.

Waxing Gibbous moonWaxing Gibbous moon

From now on, until it becomes new again From now on, until it becomes new again the illuminated part of the moon that we the illuminated part of the moon that we see decreases and we say it is waning. see decreases and we say it is waning. The week after it is full it is called waning The week after it is full it is called waning gibbous. gibbous.

Last quarter moonLast quarter moon

Three weeks after new, we again see half Three weeks after new, we again see half of the illuminated part. This is usually of the illuminated part. This is usually called the last quarter moon.called the last quarter moon.

Waning cresent moonWaning cresent moon

Finally during the fourth week the moon is Finally during the fourth week the moon is reduced to a thin sliver from us sometimes reduced to a thin sliver from us sometimes called waning cresent. called waning cresent.

More facts about the moonMore facts about the moon

If you weigh 80 pounds, you would weigh only If you weigh 80 pounds, you would weigh only 13 pounds on the moon. 13 pounds on the moon.

There have been 71 missions to the MoonThere have been 71 missions to the Moon Only three countries have visited the moon Only three countries have visited the moon Only 12 people have every walked on the Only 12 people have every walked on the

surface of the moon. surface of the moon. Nurses, police, and teaches sometimes claim Nurses, police, and teaches sometimes claim

than people act crazy at the full moon. than people act crazy at the full moon. The moon has no atmosphere or clouds. The moon has no atmosphere or clouds.