Earth, Moon, and Sun Systems

Front

Explain the phases of the moon

Back

Key concept: The Moon doesn’t make its own light; it reflects sunlight. As the Moon orbits Earth, we see different parts of the lit-up side, which is why it looks like it's changing shape.

The Lunar Cycle

The Moon goes through a full cycle of phases in about 29.5 days, which is about a month. Here are the main phases:

* New Moon: The Moon is between Earth and the Sun. The side of the Moon facing us isn’t lit up, so we can’t see it.

* Waxing Crescent: A little bit of the Moon’s lit-up side starts to appear as a curved sliver. "Waxing" means it's getting bigger.

* First Quarter: Half of the Moon is lit up. It looks like a half-circle.

*** Waxing Gibbous:** Most of the Moon is lit up, but it’s not full yet.

* Full Moon: The whole side of the Moon facing Earth is lit up. It’s a big, bright circle in the sky.

* Waning Gibbous: After the full Moon, the lit-up part starts getting smaller. "Waning" means it's shrinking.

* Third Quarter: Again, half of the Moon is lit up, but now it’s the opposite side compared to the first quarter.

* Waning Crescent: Only a small curved sliver of light is left before it goes back to a new Moon.

Front

Explain what causes seasons

Back

Key concept: the Earth orbits the sun on a tilt, causing different parts of the earth to receive different amounts of sunlight

* When your half of Earth (your hemisphere) is tilted toward the Sun, you get more sunlight and warmer weather. That’s summer!

* When your hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, you get less sunlight and colder weather. That’s winter!

* In between, you have spring and fall, when the sunlight is more even.

Think of Earth as a globe tilted on its side. As it moves around the Sun, the top (North Hemisphere) and the bottom (South Hemisphere) take turns being closer to the Sun.

* When it’s summer in one hemisphere, it’s winter in the other. For example, when it’s summer in the U.S., it’s winter in Australia!

Front

Explain what creates day and night on earth

Back

The Earth is always spinning, taking 24 hours for a full rotation

When the side of Earth you’re on faces the Sun, it’s daytime because the Sun’s light is shining on you.

When your side of Earth spins away from the Sun, it’s nighttime because you’re in Earth’s shadow.

It’s like turning a flashlight on a ball — the part facing the light is bright, and the other side is dark.

Front

What is this phase of the moon and what comes before and after

Back

New Moon

Before: Waning Crescent

After: Waxing Crescent

Front

What is this phase of the moon and what comes before and after?

Back

Waxing Crescent

Before: New Moon

After: 1st Quarter

Front

What is this phase of the moon and what comes before and after

Back

First Quarter

Before: Waxing Crescent

After: Waxing Gibbous

Front

What is this phase of the moon and what comes before and after?

Back

Waxing Gibbous

Before: First Quarter

After: Full Moon

Front

What is this phase of the moon and what comes before and after?

Back

Full Moon

Before: Waxing Gibbous

After: Waning Gibbous

Front

What is this phase of the moon and what comes before and after?

Back

Waning Gibbous

Before: Full Moon

After: Third Quarter

Front

What is this phase of the moon and what comes before and after?

Back

3rd Quarter

Before: Waxing Gibbous

After: Waxing Crescent