Moon Phases

When the moon is in between the Sun and the Earth, what phase is it in?

• Full Moon

• New Moon

• Waxing Crescent

• 1st Quarter

Answer explanation

When the Moon is in between the Sun and the Earth, we only see the side of the moon which is not lit up or the "dark side". We are "behind" the moon, which makes it a new moon.

Which moon phase comes directly after a New Moon?

• Waxing Gibbous

• Waning Crescent

• Waxing Crescent

• 3rd Quarter

Answer explanation

After the New Moon, the light begins to appear on the right side of the moon, forming a crescent shape along the terminator. Because it is "gaining" or "waxing" light, we call it a Waxing Crescent.

Which moon phase comes directly after a Waxing Crescent?

• 1st Quarter

• Full Moon

• Waxing Gibbous

• 3rd Quarter

Answer explanation

When the moon has traveled 1/4 of the way around the earth, the entire right side of the moon is lit up by the Sun's rays. We call this phase the First (1st) Quarter because it has finished 1/4 of its journey around the earth.

Which moon phase comes directly after the 1st Quarter?

• Waxing Crescent

• Waning Gibbous

• Full Moon

• Waxing Gibbous

Answer explanation

This phase is in between the 1st Quarter and the Full Moon, when the moon is still waxing. We call this the Waxing Gibbous.

When the Earth is in between the Sun and the Moon, which phase is the moon in?

• New Moon

• 3rd Quarter

• Full Moon

• Waxing Gibbous

Answer explanation

When the entire face of the moon is full, we can fully see the moon. This is called the Full Moon.

Which phase comes directly after a Full Moon?

• Waning Crescent

• Waning Gibbous

• 3rd Quarter

• New Moon

Answer explanation

After the Full Moon, the moon moves to where less light is revealing it's face. This is called "waning." We call the phase after the full moon the Waning Gibbous.

Which phase comes directly after the Waning Gibbous?

• Waning Crescent

• 3rd Quarter

• Waxing Gibbous

• New Moon

Answer explanation

When the moon has traveled 3/4 of the way around the earth, the entire left side of the moon is lit up by the Sun's rays. We call this phase the Third (3rd) Quarter because it has finished 3/4 of its journey around the earth.

Which phase comes directly after the 3rd Quarter?

• Waning Gibbous

• New Moon

• Waxing Crescent

• Waning Crescent

Answer explanation

When the moon is losing light and the lit up part of the moon is in a crescent shape, and the light is on the left side, we call that a Waning Crescent.

This phase is the ______ ________.

Waning means:

• Losing light

• Shrinking

• Gaining light

• Growing