PHASES OF THE MOON

Why does the moon’sshape change?

It does not change.

We just can’t see all of thelighted-up part all the time.

Watch the animation – make sure you see why the moon

appears to change its shape.

http://www.valdosta.edu/~cbarnbau/astro_demos/frameset_moon.html

Names of the phases

WAXING = GETTING BIGGERWANING = GETTING SMALLER

The moon as a clockWhen the FULL MOON is rising, aboutwhat time is it?

a. sunrise b. noon c. sunset d. midnight

(Think of the sun-earth-moon angle when the moon is full – 180o )

The moon as a clockWhen the FULL MOON is rising, aboutwhat time is it?

a. sunrise b. noon c. sunset d. midnight

The moon as a clockWhen the QUARTER MOON is rising, about what time is it?

a. sunrise b. noon c. sunset d. midnight

(Think of the sun-earth-moon angle when the moon is a quarter phase – 90o )

The moon as a clockWhen the QUARTER MOON is rising, about what time is it?

b. noon or d. midnight(depending on which quarter – first or last)

It takes 29.5 days for the moon to go through one complete cycle(about 1 month).

Why can we sometimes see theNON-LIGHTED part of the moonduring the crescent phase??

Why can we sometimes see the NON-LIGHTED part of the moon during the crescent phase??

EARTHSHINE

Reflected lightFrom EARTH