Phases of the Moon Introduction

Front

What are the phases of the Moon?

Back

The phases of the Moon are the different shapes the Moon appears to take as it orbits Earth, caused by the changing angles of sunlight reflecting off its surface.

Front

Does the Moon change shape?

Back

No, the Moon does not change shape; it appears to change shape due to the varying amounts of sunlight it reflects as it orbits Earth.

Front

What causes the different phases of the Moon?

Back

The different phases of the Moon are caused by how much sunlight is reflected from the Sun as the Moon orbits Earth.

Front

Does the Moon produce its own light?

Back

No, the Moon does not produce its own light; it reflects light from the Sun.

Front

What does the term 'new moon' mean?

Back

A new moon is a phase of the Moon when it is not visible from Earth because the side facing Earth is not illuminated by the Sun.

Front

What is a 'full moon'?

Back

A full moon is a phase of the Moon when it is fully illuminated by the Sun and appears as a complete circle in the sky.

Front

How many phases of the Moon are there?

Back

There are 8 distinct phases of the Moon.

Front

What is the order of the Moon phases?

Back

The order of the Moon phases is: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent.

Front

What is the term for the Moon's orbit around Earth?

Back

The term for the Moon's orbit around Earth is 'revolution'.

Front

How long does it take for the Moon to complete one orbit around Earth?

Back

It takes about 27.3 days for the Moon to complete one orbit around Earth.