a. Demonstrate the phases of the moon by showing the alignment of

the earth, moon, and sun.

Wax means to get bigger Wane means to get smaller Wax on/wax off (visibility begins from the

far right and gradually increases until a full moon is reached. After it is reached, the right side fades away until the next new moon.

Moon phase completion takes 29 days and 12 hours completing a Lunar Calendar.

NEW MOON WAXING CRESCENT

Moon lies between the sun and the Earth

Side facing Earth is dark

Moon is NOT visible (EXCEPT during a Solar Eclipse)

Less than a quarter of the moon is visible

The visible part slowly becomes larger

You see the moon from the right side with light

Backwards “C”

FIRST QUARTER WAXING GIBBOUS

Moon forms a 90˚ angle with the sun and Earth

Right half of the moon is visible (light)

Left half is dark 2 equal halves

Close to full moon visibility

More than a quarter is visible on Earth

Slight darkness on the far left side

FULL MOON WANING GIBBOUS

The moon is aligned with the Sun and Earth (Earth is in the middle)

The entire side of the moon facing Earth is bright (visible)

More than a quarter is visible

Far right side is dark Visible portion is

becoming smaller

LAST QUARTER WANING CRESCENT

Moon, Sun, and Earth form a 90˚ angle, so the side facing earth is half dark/half bright

Visible part will slowly get smaller

Visible part is the left side with right side dark

Less than a quarter is visible

Visible part is getting smaller towards the new moon

Only a sliver on the left side is visible, right side is all hidden

Looks like the letter “C”