The Phases of the Moon

by Mrs. DeWitt

 

Facts about Phases     Pictures of Phases of Moon      

Quiz about Phases  

FAQ About the Moon    Other Links About the Moon

 

 

 

Click on Underlined words to see picture of term

1. Fact: When we see the moon, we are looking at the part of the moon that is reflecting light from the sun.

2.  Fact:  It takes the moon an average of 29.5 days to orbit the Earth.

3. Fact:  If the moon is SMALLER than a QUARTER, we call it CRESCENT.

4.  Fact:  If the moon is BIGGER than a QUARTER, we call it GIBBOUS. 

5.  Fact:  When the moon is GETTING BIGGER, it is WAXING. [ The part of the moon that we see will appear to be the RIGHT side of the moon.]

6.  Fact:  When the moon is GETTING SMALLER, it is WANING.  [The part of the moon that we see will appear to be the LEFT side of the moon.]

          7. Fact:  If the CRESCENT of the moon LOOKS LIKE THE LETTER C, the  moon 
              is SHRINKING (WANING).

          8.  Fact:  If the CRESCENT of the moon CURVES LIKE THE LETTER D, the  moon 
               is getting bigger (Waxing).

          9.  Fact:  The New Moon can hardly be seen.

          10.  Fact:  The Full Moon is as big as the moon can get.

 

 

Phases of the Moon:   [From New Moon to New Moon.. average time for cycle....29.5 days]

 

New Moon .. The Moon's unilluminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon is not visible (except during a solar eclipse).

  Waxing Crescent ...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

  First Quarter ...One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is increasing

  Waxing Gibbous...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

Full Moon...The Moon's illuminated side is facing the Earth. The Moon appears to be completely illuminated by direct sunlight

  Waning Gibbous...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

  Last Quarter...One-half of the Moon appears to be illuminated by direct sunlight. The fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated is decreasing

  Waning Crescent...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 decreasing

New Moon... Phase Cycle starts over...

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Crescent Phases of Moon:

  Waxing Crescent           

     Waning Crescent

 

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Gibbous Phases of Moon:

 

Waxing Gibbous

 

Waning Gibbous

 

 

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Waxing Phases of Moon:

                     

  Waxing Crescent        First Quarter          Waxing Gibbous

 

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Waning Phases of Moon:

 

                             

    Waning Gibbous           Last Quarter          Waning Crescent

 

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  Full Moon

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New Moon

 

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    Waning Crescent

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Waxing Crescent

 

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Other  Links  about the Moon:

 

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last update 02/25/05