Moon Phases

Front

What happens as the moon revolves around the earth?

Back

The shadow slowly disappears until it's fully lit, then the lit part slowly disappears until it's completely dark.

Front

How long is a lunar month?

Back

29.5 days

Front

True or False: The moon is always half lit by the sun.

Back

True

Front

What are the phases of the moon?

Back

The phases are New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.

Front

What is a New Moon?

Back

A New Moon is when the moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and its illuminated side is facing away from the Earth.

Front

What is a Full Moon?

Back

A Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, and the entire illuminated side of the moon is visible from Earth.

Front

What causes the different moon phases?

Back

The different moon phases are caused by the changing angles of the sun's light as the moon orbits the Earth.

Front

What is a Waxing Crescent?

Back

A Waxing Crescent is the phase after a New Moon, where a small sliver of the moon becomes visible.

Front

What is a Waning Gibbous?

Back

A Waning Gibbous is the phase after a Full Moon, where the visible light of the moon starts to decrease.

Front

How does the moon's position affect its phases?

Back

The moon's position relative to the Earth and Sun determines which part of the moon is illuminated and visible from Earth.