The Moon and The 8 Planets

The plains of the Moon are called maria or ______ because people once thought they were large bodies of water.

• oceans

• lakes

• rivers

• seas

Answer explanation

The plains of the moon can be easily seen without any special equipment because they are less reflective and darker.

In ​1969, Apollo 11 astronauts first set foot on the moon on a large plain called the ​ (a)   .

• Sea of Tranquility
• Ocean of Serenity
• Sea of Dreams

Answer explanation

Because of their smoothness, the plains were an ideal area for the landing craft of the Apollo 11 spaceship.

We can only see one side of the moon from Earth because the moon always _______.

• rotates independently of the Earth

• faces away from the Earth

• keeps the same side facing us as it orbits the Earth

Answer explanation

The far side of the moon is similar to the side we see from Earth, except it has no seas, only a greater number of craters.

When the moon is ______ to the sunlit side of the Earth, we can see both the 🌙 moon and the 🌞 sun in the sky together.

• farthest

• closest

• equal distance

🌞 A (a)   occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun and blocks out the sun's light for a short period of time.

🌞 A (b)   occurs when the Earth comes between the moon and the sun, and the moon is temporarily darkened as it passes through the Earth's shadow.

• Solar Eclipse

• Lunar Eclipse

• Full Moon

• New Moon

Answer explanation

🌛 As the moon progresses from new to full, it grows larger or​ (a)   .

🌜 When the moon progresses from full back to new, it grows smaller or ​ (b)   .

• waxes
• wanes

Match the faces of the moon.

• Crescent Phase

• Phase of moon when entire surface of near side is visible

• First Quarter

• Invisible moon

  ---

  Sunlit side of moon is turned directly away from Earth

  ---

  New lunar month

• Gibbous Phase

• Phase of waxing moon when 1/2 of surface is visible

• New Moon

• Bulging phase

  ---

  Phase of moon when over half, not quite all, is visible

• Full Moon

• Phase of moon when less than 1/2 is visible

​The (a)   moon is the phase of the waning moon when one half of its surface is visible.

• third quarter
• first quarter
• gibbous

Answer explanation

The difference between first quarter and third quarter moons:

🌓 First quarter moon: Phase of the WAXING moon when one half of its surface is visible

🌗 Third quarter moon: Phase of the WANING moon when one half of its surface is visible

Label the phases of the moon.

a

b

c

d

e

f

3rd Quarter

Full Moon

New moon

Gibbous

1st Quarter

Crescent

As the Moon progresses through different phases, what is the shadowy dividing line called between the Moon's lighted and dark regions that moves across the face of the Moon?

• Shadow Edge

• Lunar Divide

• Terminator

• Crescent Line

Answer explanation

Objects are most visible when they are close to the terminator because they cast long shadows.