The moon phases are caused by the moon's orbit around Earth and the changing angle of illumination by the sun throughout its orbit. The phases include the new moon when it is not visible, the waxing crescent when a small sliver is lit, the first quarter when half is lit, and the full moon when it is fully illuminated opposite the sun. Later phases are the waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent as the illuminated portion decreases again.
The moon phases are caused by the moon's orbit around Earth and the changing angle of illumination by the sun throughout its orbit. The phases include the new moon when it is not visible, the waxing crescent when a small sliver is lit, the first quarter when half is lit, and the full moon when it is fully illuminated opposite the sun. Later phases are the waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent as the illuminated portion decreases again.
The moon phases are caused by the moon's orbit around Earth and the changing angle of illumination by the sun throughout its orbit. The phases include the new moon when it is not visible, the waxing crescent when a small sliver is lit, the first quarter when half is lit, and the full moon when it is fully illuminated opposite the sun. Later phases are the waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent as the illuminated portion decreases again.
• The moon reflects light from the sun. • The moon does not change shape we see it lit up by the sun in different ways. • We always see the same side of the moon. New Moon
• The moon is fully
shaded so it is invisible to us. • Occurs when the moon lies between the earth and sun. Waxing Crescent Moon • There is a small sliver of light being reflected. • The sunlight is increasing, but is still less than half. First Quarter Moon • We see that the moon is half lit. • Occurs one week after the new moon. • Rises at sunset. Waxing Gibbous Moon • Three quarters of the right side of the moon is lit. • Occurs between one and two weeks of the new moon. Full Moon
• The moon is on the
opposite side of the earth from the sun. • It is fully illuminated and is round. Waning Gibbous Moon • Three quarters of the left side of the moon is lit up. • Occurs a few days after the full moon. • Sails over the eastern horizon Third Quarter Moon • Also called the Last Quarter Moon. • The left side is lit up. • The amount of light decreases into the next phase. Waning Crescent Moon • Can usually be seen in the east before dawn. • It is lit up all day, it is just hard for us to see it. • The crescent keeps on getting smaller.