Phases of the Moon

Phases of
the Moon

Review from

Earth Rotates and Revolves

elliptical

67,000 mph

1,037 mph

counterclockwise

Day Night

93 million miles

4,400 mph

584 million miles

Do you remember the inner
planet and the outer planet

that do not move in a

counterclockwise motion?

Venus and Uranus!

238,855 miles

On average, how far is the moon from Earth?

Fun Fact

How fast is the
Moon rotating?

Fun Fact

2,288 miles per hour

How fast is
the Moon
revolving?

2,288 miles per hour

Fun Fact

The Moon is rotating at the
same rate that it revolves

around Earth (called

synchronous rotation), so the
same side of the moon faces

Earth all the time

Source: NASA

Fun Fact

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1. No light of its own

The Moon does not create its
own light. It reflects light from
the Sun instead.

2. Length of a Lunar Cycle

The moon goes through all 8
phases during a 29.5 day cycle

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Phases of

Waxing Crescent

New Moon

Waning Crescent

First Quarter

Waxing Gibbous

Waning Gibbous

Full Moon

Third Quarter

Let's add some arrows to show
the direction the moon moves

as it revolves around Earth!

Do you remember which 2 planets do not move in this direction>

Waxing Crescent

New Moon

Waning Crescent

First Quarter

Waxing Gibbous

Waning Gibbous

Full Moon

Third Quarter

As the Moon revolves around the Earth,
different parts of the moon's surface reflects
light from the Sun.

What we see depends on the location of the
moon in its orbit.

3. What creates
Moon
Phases?

A blue moon isn't actually blue,
it refers to the occurrence of a
full moon twice during the
same calendar month.

The next monthly Blue Moon will
take place on May 31, 2026

Blue Moon

Fun Fact

New Moon

Facing away from the Sun.

No light can be reflected so it is

dark.

What we see

on Earth.

Why does the moon seem to disappear during a New Moon?

(5 degree tilt)

Full Moon

A full moon occurs when

the side of the moon
facing the Sun is seen
from Earth as fully lit

Because the moon is higher in its
orbit around Earth, the light from

the Sun is not blocked from

reaching the surface.

What causes a Full Moon?

New Moon

A New moon occurs when the side of the moon facing away

from the Sun is seen from Earth as completely dark.

What causes a New Moon?

Labelling

Label the phases of the Moon

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

First Quarter

Waning Gibbous

Third Quarter

New Moon

Waxing Gibbous

Waxing Crescent

Full Moon

Waning Crescent

Earth

Sun