It’s just going through a

phase!Source:

NASA, Apollo 11

If you look at the Moon each night, you’ll notice its

appearance changes.

If you watch closely, you’ll

notice the Moon changes in a

regular pattern.

It gets larger, and then it gets

smaller and then larger again.

Why?

The Earth revolves around and the Sun and

the Moon revolves around the Earth.

As the Moon revolves around

the Earth, different parts of the Moon

are in sunlight.

This causes the phases of

the Moon.

There are eight major phases of the Moon you should

know.

New Moon

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

Waxing

The Moon appears to be getting larger.

Waxing Crescent

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

First Quarter

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

Gibbous

Between half and full.

Waxing Gibbous

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

Full Moon

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

Waning

The Moon appears to be

getting smaller.

Waning Gibbous

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

Last/3rd Quarter

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

Waning Crescent

Source of Moon Pictures: Goleta Air and Space Museum, http://www.air-and-space.com/Moon20200408.htm

And the cycle begins all over again, month

after month after month.

That is why we see the Moon change thru the

month.