Phases of the Moon

Front

What are the phases of the Moon?

Back

The phases of the Moon are the different appearances of the Moon as seen from Earth, caused by the changing positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is a New Moon?

Back

A New Moon is the phase when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and its illuminated side is facing away from Earth, making it invisible.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is a Full Moon?

Back

A Full Moon is the phase when the entire face of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun, occurring when the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

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, increasing in size.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is a Waxing Gibbous?

Back

A Waxing Gibbous is the phase after the First Quarter, where more than half of the Moon is illuminated and increasing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is a Waning Gibbous?

Back

A Waning Gibbous is the phase after a Full Moon, where the illumination is decreasing but more than half of the Moon is still visible.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is a Waning Crescent?

Back

A Waning Crescent is the phase before a New Moon, where a small sliver of the Moon is visible and decreasing in size.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

How many main phases of the Moon are there?

Back

There are 8 main phases of the Moon: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What is the First Quarter phase?

Back

The First Quarter is the phase when half of the Moon is illuminated and visible from Earth, occurring after the Waxing Crescent.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Front

What causes the Moon phases?

Back

The Moon phases are caused by the relative positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun, which change as the Moon orbits Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1