PHASES OF THE MOON

Moon Facts

No atmosphere or water Temperature Range: 100oC to -170oC Moon’s gravity is 1/6th as strong as

Earth’s Diameter is less than the distance across

the U.S. Craters are formed from impacts of

meteoroids and rocks from space. Maria are dark flat areas.

Maria

Craters

Why do we see the Moon?

The Moon does not shine on its own. It is illuminated by the Sun.

Like the Earth, Half the moon is always lit by the sun.

Motions of the Moon 1 Moon Year = 27.3 days to revolve

around the Earth 1 Moon Day = 27.3 days to rotate on its

axis one time

Rotation = Revolution

(orbit)

Which means…….

Why do we only see the same

side of the Moon?

Because the Moon’s rotation on its axis and its revolution around the Earth is the same.

We always see the Near Side!!!

Sides of the Moon We only see the Near side of the Moon. We cannot view the Far side of the Moon

from Earth.

Misunderstanding…There is no ‘dark side’ of the moon. It gets

sunlight, we just cannot view it from Earth.

What are the Moon Phases?

As the Moon revolves around the Earth, we get different views of the near side. These are the phases of the Moon!!!

Phase Key words!

New = Shaded side, Lunar Night

Full = Lit side, Lunar Day

VS

Phase Key words!

Crescent = Small lit side

Gibbous = Larger Lit side

VS

Phase Key words!

Waxing = a Growing lighted sideRight to Left

TO

Phase Key words!

Waning = a shrinking lighted sideRight to Left

TO

Moon Phase Sim

http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/moonphase.html

New Moon

Waxing Crescent

1st Quarter

Waning Gibbous

3rd Quarter

Full Moon

Waning Crescent

Waxing Gibbous