Phases of the Moon3rd Grade

Science

Miss Taleen

Did you know?• The same side of the Moon always faces the

Earth. • The Moon is about 1/4 the size of the Earth. • The Moon is the only extraterrestrial body that

has ever been visited by humans. It is also the only body that has had samples taken from it.

• The Moon reflects the Suns light. It does not create its own.

Phases of the Moon•The Moon orbits around the Earth every 29.5 days.

•The appearance of the Moon changes. These changes are called the phases of the Moon.

•The Moon appears to wobble because it is not a perfect circle.

New Moon

• The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.

• The unlit side faces the Earth.

• Can only be seen during a Solar Eclipse.

Waxing Crescent

• The lit section of the Moon begins to increase.

• Less than half is illuminated.

First Quarter

• The lit section of the Moon continues to increase.

• Half the Moon is reflecting the Sun’s light.

Waxing Gibbous

• The lit section of the Moon continues to increase.

• More than half the Moon is bright.

Full Moon

• We can see the entire Moon.

• The Earth is in between the Moon and the Sun.

• The Moon is halfway through its rotation.

Waning Gibbous

• The lit part of the Moon begins to decrease.

• More than half the Moon is still bright.

Last Quarter

• The Moon continues to decrease in appearance.

• Half the Moon is seen from Earth.

Waning Crescent

• The last phase of the Moon.

• Less than half the Moon is lit.

September 2009

See you at night!!

References

• Phases of the Moon and Percent of the Moon Illuminated – http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/moon_phases

• Moon Phases– http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112188/moon_ph

ases.htm

• The Moon– http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/time/m

oon/facts.htm