Come and Explore the phases of the moon.

The Phases of the Moon

Reflection:How does the moon

move? Does the moon rotate?How long does it take

for the moon to go around the earth?

Does the moon create it’s own light?

Why does the moon change shape?

The relationship of the the Earth, Moon and Sun

Lunar CycleThe amount of the

moon that can be seen from earth is a phase of the moon.

Do you know any of the phases of the moon?

How many total moon phases are there?

What are phases of the moon?Phases of the Moon

Phase: clear or distinguishable period or stage in a process

Illuminate: to make something visible or bright with light, to be lit up

Waxing: increasing or growing largerWaning: decreasing or growing smallerCrescent: arc shape, less than half visible

Moon Vocabulary

There are seven Phases of the moon.

The term Phase, means a stage of development.

Looking at the chart what phases are you familiar with?

Phases of the MoonModel of the Phases

New Moon When the Moon is roughly

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

The Begingin of the Moon CycleHow much is the new moon illuminated?

Waxing Crescent Moon The Moon appears to be

partly but less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing. This Moon can be seen after the New Moon, but before the First Quarter Moon.  The crescent will grow larger and larger every day, until the Moon looks like the First Quarter Moon.

The First Phase of the Moon

First Quarter Moon One-half of the Moon appears

to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing. The right half of the Moon appears lighted and the left side of the Moon appears dark.  During the time between the New Moon and the First Quarter Moon, the part of the Moon that appears lighted gets larger and larger every day, and will continue to grow until the Full Moon.

The Second Phase of the Moon

Waxing Gibbous Moon The Moon appears to be

more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing. This Moon can be seen after the First Quarter Moon, but before the Full Moon.  The amount of the Moon that we can see will grow larger and larger every day. 

The Third Phase of the Moon

Full Moon The Moon's illuminated

side is facing the Earth. The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight. The lighted side of the Moon faces the Earth.  This means that the Earth, Sun, and Moon are nearly in a straight line, with the Earth in the middle.  The Moon that we see is very bright from the sunlight reflecting off it.

The Fourth Phase of the Moon

Waning Gibbous Moon The Moon appears to be

more than one-half but not fully illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing. This Moon can be seen after the Full Moon, but before the Last Quarter Moon.  The amount of the Moon that we can see will grow smaller and smaller every day

The Fifth Phase of the Moon

Last Quarter Moon One-half of the Moon appears

to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing. Sometimes called Third Quarter.  The left half of the Moon appears lighted, and the right side of the Moon appears dark.  During the time between the Full Moon and the Last Quarter Moon, the part of the Moon that appears lighted gets smaller and smaller every day. It will continue to shrink until the New Moon.

The Sixth Phase of the Moon

Waning Crescent Moon The Moon appears to be

less than one-half illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing. This Moon can be seen after the Last Quarter Moon and before the New Moon.  The crescent will grow smaller and smaller every day, until the Moon looks like the New Moon.

The Seventh Phase of the Moon

29- entries

Creating My Own Moon Journal